Animals are nature. So are we humans. Photo: Pixabay for © Pexels, 2019;

In a press release dated December 11, 2019, Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner speaks of "many improvements in the livestock sector". In the Animal Welfare Report 2015 - 2018 of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), the individual points were simultaneously made public.

While the author of the report wants to identify an attitude "with which concrete measures the Federal Government is contributing to an improvement in the situation of farm animals, pets and laboratory animals", the German Animal Welfare Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.) and we see the current situation as less rosy.

Kick-off

A large part of the press release is devoted to the killing of chicks, the efforts to achieve animal welfare labelling and the problems involved in implementing animal welfare standards in Germany. "If we want to prevent our agricultural production from migrating abroad and being produced there under conditions over which we have little influence, we need European regulations", said the Federal Minister of Agriculture.

Measurable confidence

After more than four decades of our own experience in the food sector as a specialist wholesaler for food packaging, we no longer trust certificates, seals or documents. In our Code of Conduct of 25 October 2017, we have clearly stated our position.

We therefore much prefer to trust the so-called Animal Welfare Label of the German Animal Welfare Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.), which, according to our own research, is the only one that does not list any interpretable criteria for the applicants' evidence and is therefore measurable and serious in this respect. "All the others speak constantly in the subjunctive: would, had, could, if possible, if feasible ... then it can be left as it is", comments Ingo H. Klett, Head of Corporate Communications at WEBER Packaging GmbH.

Die wichtigsten Punkte des Tierschutzberichts für den Zeitraum 2015 - 2018 sind …

the termination of non-curative interventions in animals
the prevention of slaughter of highly pregnant animals (note: why pregnant animals at all?!?) the introduction of a voluntary (note: Ooops ... Fehlerteufel, dear BMEL. Back to the beginning again!) state animal welfare label the promotion of animal welfare at national and EU level to prevent distortions of competition
the determination of the sex of chicks already in the egg
the work of the State Secretary Committee for Animal Welfare specifically on laying hens and piglets
the keeping of sows in crates, which has to be reduced in time (note: why at all in this confinement ...?)
the implementation of coalition agreements on animal welfare

We invite you to use the commentary function on our official Facebook company page or right here afterwards to discuss the topics that interest you, to exchange ideas, to reflect, to philosophize and, ideally, to work constructively on solution-oriented answers that simplify your everyday business life and provide even more clarity for your customers and end users.

#unbreakingnews

Just as the constructively working editorial offices we support with a subscription each for solution-oriented, purely member-funded, ad-free and therefore truly independent journalism - Correctiv, Krautreporter, Perspective Daily and The Correspondent - set an example for us, we as the Corporate Communications department of WEBER Packaging GmbH also assume that, even with the greatest effort, there can be no purely objective reporting due to the very individual personal development and origins of the authors and editors.

Open. Honest. Honest.

In the spirit of a living culture of transparency, we are therefore happy to disclose to you at any time what connections we have or to whom our authors may feel obligated: as a trading company, for example, we enjoy the great privilege of not being obligated to anyone in the end and thus always being able to achieve the optimum for our clientele.

Ingo H. Klett – the author of this post – is a freelance public relations and visual artist, but does not represent the interests of any lobby groups.

Sincere luck - in the end, three had that. Because when Tass from Spain, a dog from a German-Spanish animal protection project, moved into the house of the Elke and Michael Weber family in the Zabergäu, he was of course happy and soon after that our whole team was happy too.

In December 2018 Michael and Elke Weber had adopted the Galgo male of Spanish origin. According to the information of the Tierschutz Spanien e.V., he listened to the name Tass and at that time he was 2 years old and 65 centimetres "tall" - from floor to shoulder. He was tested negative for the infectious disease leishmaniasis, which can be found regularly in dogs in southern European regions.

Already from April 2018 on, the animal welfare association looked for a suitable home for him. However, before this was to happen, he spent some time in a foster home near Schwäbisch Hall. Tolerated with cats...

Characteristic features

...but he still has some very nice ones. For example, our cup is very human. An affectionate family dog, with whom even sighthound newcomers can get along well. Gudrun Sauter, the 1st chairwoman of the animal protection association, who was responsible for the mediation, described him as loving and balanced.

We took Tass out of the perrera in a pitiful state at the beginning of April. He was completely emaciated and very weak. One of our foster homes took him into their home and nursed him back to health. After a few weeks he was well again.

– Gudrun Sauter –

From 18 August 2018 Tass lived at his foster home in a larger group with other sighthounds. Rather reservedly one would not have to ask him twice to play or run. Outside he was also friendly to small dogs.

In the office we experience Tass meanwhile as very affectionate and obedient. He wants to please us humans and - as affectionate and friendly as he is - he also deals well with children who visit us occasionally.

Elke Weber: "Living in the house with us does not cause Tass any difficulties. As Mrs Sauter wrote to us at the time, he was house-trained from day one. Tass loves to be outside, runs excellently on a leash and loves to jump on the meadow or in the garden.

have they gotten onto the dog now, too?

Then you should know that Gudrun Sauter has the official permission according to paragraph 11 of the Animal Welfare Act for the mediation, trade, keeping, care, accommodation and import as well as for the movement and training of animals.

So if you are also interested in a dog, then you should first look around in the animal shelters - the German Animal Welfare Association is calling for this on the occasion of tomorrow's meeting.

World Dog Day 2019

...on. About 75,000 dogs are taken in every year in the 550 animal shelters affiliated to the German Animal Welfare Association and then wait longingly for a new loving home. In contrast to the adoption of a local animal shelter dog, the anonymous purchase of dogs via the Internet is dangerous. A dog from the animal protection is special and a valuable unique specimen," says Miriam Holbach, specialist for animal homes at the German Animal Welfare Association. And Tass' master explains it like this:

It is love.

– Michael Weber –

For this very reason, animal rights activists warn against buying dogs on the Internet, because interested parties usually can neither verify the identity of the dealer nor the previous history of the animal. But with the campaign...

Animal shelters help. Help animal shelters!

...the German Animal Welfare Association draws attention to the valuable work of the animal shelters and the uniqueness of the shelter animals in time for World Dog Day tomorrow, 10 October. Over 740 animal protection associations with about 550 club-owned animal homes are affiliated to the umbrella organisation.

Tass would appreciate your understanding.

Criticism of Klöckner