Germany

Germany's Situation

　Germany, a leading pet country, has a zero rate of euthanasia. Let's take a look at why Germany has achieved zero killings.

　Germany has some of the most advanced animal welfare laws in the world. In addition, most animal shelters are run privately unlike Japan. The government pays transfer fees and storage fees to these groups when they deliver protected animals to them, so the taxpayer's money is indirectly returned to the private facilities. This is a system where taxpayer money is indirectly returned to private facilities. Japan should learn from this system to aim to abolish euthanasia. Some of the shelters have veterinary clinics and are run by veterinarians. We are working to expand our animal protection efforts not only in our own country but also in Europe and around the world.

Tierheim

What is Tierheim?

　Tierheim refers to animal shelters in Germany. The majority of them are run by private organizations and are often supported by the government. The animals that can be placed in a Tierheim are strays, animals brought in directly by their owners, and animals that have been confiscated. There are about 1,400 of these facilities nationwide, and they vary in size. The goal of Tierheim is to transfer animals from the facility, but some animals are not transferred and spend their entire lives at Tierheim.

Berlin Tierheim

　Berlin Tierheim is the largest animal shelter in Europe and is run according to the Veterinary Shelter Medicine. The shelter houses 1,400 animals ranging from cats and dogs to reptiles and monkeys. It also has a veterinary hospital with a staff of about 10 veterinarians and nurses. More than 10,000 animals are taken in annually, and the adoption rate is over 90%. It is run by donations from corporations and citizens, and animal management fees from the government.

Dog Tax

　In Germany, there is a dog tax that is imposed on people who own dogs. The tax is mandatory in each state and is based on the number of dogs you have. The amount of the dog tax varies from state to state, but in Berlin, it is 120 euros for the first dog and 180 euros for the second dog. The dog tax is mainly used to pay for cleaning up feces left on the streets.

Summary

　Germany is said to be an animal-friendly country with zero killings. To maintain this, there is a shelter called Tierheim for the transfer of animals. Also, Germany impose dog tax on dog owners.