It's high time that local and regional bodies should shoulder the responsibility of funding animal welfare initiatives. In the state of Thuringia, the Greens suggest a novel funding approach for animal welfare. This includes a contract between the state and municipalities, as advocated by Bernhard Stengele, the Green Party's top candidate and Environment Minister, in Erfurt. Essentially, we aim to establish an Animal Welfare Pact with the municipalities, where they agree to adequately fund local animal welfare groups. In turn, the state guarantees a binding financial assistance.
Volunteers essential for animal welfare
The urgent need for substantial funding to cover ongoing expenses like salaries, feed, and veterinary care is evident. Backed by his party, Stengele supports the state animal welfare association's call for a statewide compulsion for spaying/neutering stray cats.
Generally, animal welfare organizations operate on a voluntary basis, with some also managing animal shelters. They conduct spaying/neutering operations on stray cats to control animal suffering caused by malnutrition and diseases due to an escalating cat population. They also look after found animals and contribute to animal rescue operations. Unfortunately, as Stengele highlighted, many animal welfare advocates are nearing their breaking point. Costs are escalating, the workload is mounting, he said. Previously, the state offered annual subsidies for construction costs in animal shelters, but that's not sufficient.
The proposed statewide compulsion for spaying/neutering stray cats by Stengele aims to improve animal welfare. The financial assistance guaranteed by the state under the Animal Welfare Pact will be indispensable for animal welfare organizations to continue their operations effectively.
Additional Insights:
- In Germany, with its diverse range of flora and fauna like deciduous and coniferous forests, various animal species such as roe deer, wild boar, and Eurasian beavers, and dedicated national parks and Biosphere Reserves, animal welfare and conservation are integral to the country's broader environmental protection and sustainability initiatives.
- For instance, the Berlin Zoo, one of Germany's oldest zoos, has the most comprehensive collection of species and contributes to wildlife preservation.
- Sustainable practices and environmental conservation are promoted through various initiatives, such as the NXTLVL Parking project targeting public transport enhancements and bicycle infrastructure and the paludiculture initiative, which aims to find ways for farmers to earn a living from rewetted peatlands while reducting greenhouse gas emissions.
