Animal welfare in Germany

In Germany, all animals are protected by law. This law is called the Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG). It states:

• Humans have to protect the lives and well-being of animals.
• No one may cause an animal pain, suffering or harm without good reason.
• Anyone who wants to have a pet has to acquire knowledge.
• A pet has needs. You have to accommodate, feed and care for your pet accordingly. The needs of the animal are decisive.

Prohibited is for example:

• Hitting an animal or causing it pain in any other way.
• Abandoning a pet that is no longer wanted or leaving it behind.
• Slaughtering a warm-blooded animal without knowledge and skills. Every animal must be stunned before slaughter, which requires an administrative authorisation.
• Catching and keeping wild animals in captivity.
• Letting sick animals die. Every animal must be treated by a vet or, if necessary, killed by a vet.

Anyone who violates the Animal Welfare Act can be punished (prison sentence or fine, ban on keeping animals) and the animals can also be taken away by the authorities. The animal owner must pay for the accommodation.
Inform yourself before you decide to keep an animal.

1. Have your pet microchipped by a vet.
   
2. Register the chip in a pet register: https://www.tasso.net or https://www.findefix.com.
   This is the only way your pet can be identified if it is found!

Outdoor cats have to be neutered (male and female cats). This prevents cats from having offspring in the house and on the street. Neutering your cat therefore helps all cats. The obligation to neuter cats is regulated in the local laws for Bremen and Bremerhaven.

Current information: A certificate of competence test is not yet mandatory. It will be required when the new Dogs Act comes into force.

• If you want to keep a dog, you have to pass a certificate test. The theoretical part must be passed before buying a dog, the practical part is done together with the dog.
• Dogs must be identified with a microchip and registered.
• Some dogs require a character test.
• Keeping of some dog breeds is prohibited.
• Dogs may not be tied up.
• Dogs must be kept on a lead in many places. In some parts of the city there are areas where dogs are allowed to run off the lead ("Hundeauslauffläche").
• From 15 March to 15 July, dogs must be kept on a lead everywhere ("breeding season") to protect wild animals, which mainly raise their offspring during this time.
• Information on keeping dogs on a lead can be obtained from the public order office (https://ordnungsamt.bremen.de).

• There are minimum requirements for keeping poultry and pigeons. They may not be kept in cages or stables that are too narrow and dark.
• Some ornamental pigeon breeds may not be kept.

• Birds must be kept at least in pairs.
• If they are kept in a cage in the apartment, they must be able to fly freely for several hours a day. The cage must be very large, an aviary is best.
• Wild birds may not be caught.

If you can no longer keep your pet, you can hand it in at an animal shelter. Found animals can also be handed in at the animal shelter. If you would like to have a pet, you should first look for it at an animal shelter. Animal shelters also provide advice with with respect to keeping animals.
Bremen animal shelter: https://bremer-tierschutzverein.de
Bremerhaven animal shelter: https://tierschutz-bremerhaven.eu

If you find out that an animal is in distress or is being badly treated, you can get help here:

• Lebensmittelüberwachungs-, Tierschutz- und Veterinärdienst des Landes Bremen (LMTVet) (Lebensmittelüberwachungs-, Tierschutz- und Veterinärdienst des Landes Bremen)
• Police (emergency number: 110)
• Animal shelters

Please document the case as well as possible (date, time, photos, description).

There are many associations and groups in Bremen that are active in animal welfare. Help is always welcome. You can find them at the Freiwilligenagentur Bremen, for example: (https://www.freiwilligen-agentur-bremen.de).