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Dog boarding scandal: 128 animals rescued from misery!
In the Saale district, a dog boarding facility was closed due to severe animal cruelty; 128 dogs rescued from abuse.
Dog boarding scandal: 128 animals rescued from misery!
In a shocking case of animal cruelty that is causing horror across the country, the operators of a dog boarding facility in Bad Lauchstädt, near Halle, are on trial. During the last Christmas season in 2024, authorities discovered a catastrophic condition: 128 neglected dogs were living in extreme hygienic conditions, locked in old trailers and homemade kennels, surrounded by garbage and excrement. Some of the animals were severely malnourished, injured or showed apathetic behavior. The dramatic rescue operation was carried out by firefighters and animal rights activists and exposed the dark reality behind the kennel doors. MDR reports that ...
The public prosecutor's office in Halle has now brought charges against the operator of the guesthouse and her partner. The two are accused of intentionally failing to ensure the welfare of the animals. During various inspections that took place over several months, different numbers of injured animals were documented: 37 in the first two appointments, 92 on December 18th, and seven in the operator's apartment. These alarming conditions led to the removal of all 128 dogs and a ban on the operator and her partner from keeping or caring for other animals, reports the State Administration Office (LVA) in Halle. Despite previous violations of animal welfare, the operator had operated for years without an operating license and the Saale District Veterinary Office, which cannot be accused of criminal failure, cannot be held responsible for the inadequate measures.
The sad reality of rescued animals
The living conditions of the animals kept in the kennel were appalling. According to a report by Haustiere Aktuell, the dogs lived under a constant lack of water and adequate care. Many of the rescued animals are severely traumatized and have poor health; two of them died despite intensive care efforts. After the rescue, the dogs were taken to various animal shelters within Germany to be looked after. The authorities documented that animal welfare violations have occurred repeatedly since 2016, but without any decisive action being taken.
The sad story not only raises questions about animal protection legislation, but also about the responsibility of the responsible authorities. Experts criticize that the measures taken so far have not been sufficient. Although the operator received a fine of 1,600 euros in March 2025 for her repeated violations, she is still permitted to keep up to three dogs, which is met with great skepticism. An outdated understanding of “animal hoarding” often slows down decisive responses from authorities, which many animal welfare organizations are concerned about.
A call for civil courage
The case makes it impressively clear how important civil courage and timely action by citizens and authorities is to help animals in need. Anyone who observes irregularities should immediately inform the responsible veterinary office or the police, recommends Jugendtierschutz. It is critical to accurately document what was observed and, if necessary, preserve evidence. But the same applies here: Don't just take action yourself, but inform the official authorities. The welfare of the animals should always come first.
The upcoming hearing at the district court in Halle is eagerly awaited. The defendants face not only fines, but in the worst case even a prison sentence of up to three years. But the question remains how to prevent such tragedies from happening again in the future.