Berlin animal shelter: Shocking statistics and illness threaten animals!

The Berlin animal shelter can look back on an eventful year in 2024, in which numerous animals were abandoned, given away or rescued from catastrophic conditions. A total of 4,091 animals were taken in during this time. Of these, 2,761 animals found new homes, including 413 dogs, 1,603 cats, 413 small animals and 208 birds. The animal shelter's dedicated animal keepers and team do valuable work and reach out to animal lovers via Instagram to show support and gratitude. Also reported Berlin Live from the bird disease, Newcastle disease, which broke out in the animal shelter at the end of the year. This highly contagious disease is often fatal to birds and poses significant challenges to the facility.

During an outbreak of Newcastle disease, the pathogen was detected in seven pigeons at the shelter, requiring extensive protective measures to protect the bird population. Loud Animal protection Berlin Eva Rönspieß, the chairwoman of the animal protection association, said that the situation was extremely stressful for the employees. The teams in the veterinary practice and in the aviary are stretched both mentally and physically as they maintain close relationships with the animals, who often live in the shelter for a long time. The primary goal remains to prevent further infections and to save as many of the 373 birds as possible.

Extensive protective measures

To bring the outbreak of the disease under control, all necessary disease control measures were immediately initiated. This includes extensive disinfection measures that include logging movements on the animal shelter grounds. Employees disinfect shoes and hands several times a day, and 200 liters of disinfectant were used on the first day. The additional protective measures also include the use of gloves, protective clothing, glasses and disinfection mats and tubs.

The financial burden of these measures is significant as Newcastle disease is harmless to humans, but the animal shelter's consultation days are canceled until further notice to eliminate the risk of transmission. The animals will continue to be rehomed, but only by prior appointment. For current information, the shelter provides continuous updates on their website.