Weimar in the cat sniffing fight: Veterinarian explains the Protection Ordinance!

Weimar in the cat sniffing fight: Veterinarian explains the Protection Ordinance!

in Weimar has caused a controversy about the cat protection regulation, which has been in effect since January 2, 2019, heated discussions. With this rules, as Matters representatives emphasize, the city wanted to curb the rising number of stray cats and the associated health risks. According to official veterinarian Madeleine Spielvogel, around 10,000 cats live in Weimar, many of whom are without a permanent residence and spread diseases such as cat cold. "We had a high occurrence of diseases and had to act," said Spielvogel.

The regulation obliges cat owners to castrate, chip and register their animals. This was requested by the animal welfare community as a necessary step. However, there was resistance from parts of the population who saw it an interference with their personal freedoms. Spielvogel made it clear: "We were only concerned with animal welfare."

reactions to the regulation

In the initial months, the cat protection regulation met with mixed reactions among the population. Some Weimar needed time to accept the need for such measures. Critics feared that their rights would be circumcised as pet owners. But the city administration emphasizes that animal welfare comes first.

Stefan Kleinhans, the official veterinarian in the Weimarer Land, pointed out the legal foundations that regulate such regulations. According to paragraph 13, such measures can only be issued as a last instance in the Animal Welfare Act if all other options have previously failed. Kleinhans said: "We try to keep the whole thing as small as possible and really only treat the focal points." The veterinary office is specifically responding to the reports of sick cats or suspected cases that indicate "animal hoarding" - keeping animals in large numbers.

The situation remains tense, and the discussion about the adequate dealings with abandoned cats and the responsibility of the pet owners in Weimar will continue. For more details on this topic you can find interesting information in a comprehensive report www.mdr.de .