Animal welfare scandal in MV: Veterinary offices fight against record ads!

Animal welfare scandal in MV: Veterinary offices fight against record ads!

The alarm bells ring in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania! The number of animal welfare ads literally explodes and the veterinary offices face a huge challenge. According to a recent survey by the German press agency, the advertisements from 80 in 2015 increased to terrifying 525 in the first nine months of this year. In Rostock alone, 189 checks were carried out by animal welfare ads by the end of October - only 165 throughout 2023! The situation is dramatic and the employees are at the limit.

psychological stress and high costs

The ads mainly affect dogs and cats, but also farm animals such as horses, cattle and sheep are affected. The allegations range from catastrophic housing conditions to inadequate care to exposed animals. In the district of Vorpommern-Rügen, an enormous psychological burden on employees is reported, which are not only faced with aggressive animal owners, but also with an increasing number of judicial procedures. The accommodation of confiscated, often sick animals also causes immense costs.

A particularly shocking case occurred in the Mecklenburg Seenplatte district: when a horse farm was checked, serious defects were found that four horses were confiscated and the owner is to be forbidden. The animals were in an alarming state, which underlines the urgency of the situation. The veterinary offices are not only authorized to confiscate animals, but also to pronounce bans and impose fines. In the event of suspicion of crimes, even the public prosecutor is involved.

neighborhood disputes as a trigger

The increasing number of ads is also attributed to increased sensitivity among the population and simpler reporting paths. But not all ads are justified; Many turn out to be unjustified and often result from neighborhood disputes or personal disagreements. The animal rights activists in MV are dissatisfied with the Ministry of Agriculture, which has led to resignations from members of the Advisory Board. In addition, uncastrated free-range cats and a mild winter provide overcrowded animal shelters nationwide. The situation is tense and requires urgent measures!