Shock in Magdeburg: Hundreds of neglected sheep discovered!

In Magdeburg, hundreds of dead and neglected sheep were discovered on January 10, 2025. The owner, a 62-year-old woman, has been under a ban on animal husbandry that has been pronounced in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district since October 2020.

During a control in Gollbogen, strongly neglected horses, mulis and a beef were also found. The owner probably had more than 1,000 sheep, specifically 1,150 animals. In Gommern, the authorities found eleven neglected dogs in a restaurant during further control, which increased the total number of dogs to 27. The district administrator of the Jerichower Land, Steffen Burchhardt, referred to the owner as "Animal Hoarder".

Animal Hoarding and increasing number of cases

Animal Hoarding denotes the pathological collecting and holding of animals, often without the necessary care. The German Animal Welfare Association documented a total of 115 Animal Hoarding in 2023, and around 6,700 animals were affected. Burchhardt calls for a Germany -wide registration register for the better traceability of animal husbandry prohibitions.

The case in Magdeburg is not isolated: since 2008 the German Animal Welfare Association has been collecting data on known cases of animal hoarding. This information has been evaluated since 2012 and makes it clear that more than 42,000 animals in Germany have been affected since the collection began. The most common animals are cats followed by small pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs. In 2023, the survey with 6,691 affected animals was a maximum.

On January 8, 2025, about 400 dead sheep were found on the owner's property, the cause of death is still unclear. Around 600 living animals have now been taken over by the veterinary office and receive water and hay. In addition, 13 dogs were accommodated in an animal shelter and privately; A dog had to be shot because of its aggressive behavior.

Until recently, the owner had a contract for dike care with the state company for flood protection and water management Saxony-Anhalt, which was terminated on December 20, 2024 after withdrawing the operating license.

For more information about the problem of animal hoarding and the corresponding activities of animal welfare, read mdr and German animal protection association .