Illegal torture breeding: dogs from Coswig secured in animal shelter!

Illegal torture breeding: dogs from Coswig secured in animal shelter!

In Coswig near Wittenberg there is currently a lot of excitement about illegal, torture-breeding of dogs. The responsible veterinary office recently inspected a breeding facility with over 30 dogs where the animals live in very poor conditions. All female dogs and puppies were temporarily taken to an animal shelter, while eleven male dogs initially remained on the property after an official veterinary examination. The review showed that many of the dogs exhibited characteristics of torture breeding, such as extremely shortened snouts, overbites with exposed teeth and excessive skin folds. These individual characteristics can not only lead to significant health problems, but also mean a massive reduction in the animals' quality of life. The list of possible consequential damages ranges from shortness of breath to eye inflammation and skin irritation. As MDR reports, a legal review is now underway to clarify whether the animals can be permanently confiscated and rendered sterile. The financial consequences of the seizure should be imposed on the owner.

A look at the current status of the Animal Protection Act shows that the ban on cruel breeding has been enshrined for over 26 years, but is hardly enforced in practice. This is exactly the central point that the German Animal Welfare Association emphasizes: The health of the animals must have top priority. Despite criticism of the previous regulations, according to which breeders can often practice extreme forms of breeding with impunity, the Animal Welfare Association has welcomed the creation of a new cruel breeding paragraph in the Animal Protection Act. However, it remains to be seen how this will be implemented in practice, as transition periods of up to 15 years for existing breeding forms have been sharply criticized. These long timelines risk causing many animals to continue to be subjected to unnecessary suffering.

The dark side of breeding

Another aspect of the entire discussion is the health burden that many dog ​​breeds from cruel breeding have to bear. Every year, over 200,000 dogs are born in kennels in Germany, many of which suffer seriously from the consequences of extreme breeding practices. In connection with the protection of animals demands Animal Protection Law.net that breeders and owners must take responsibility for the well-being of their animals. According to the law, borderline characteristics, such as the extreme shortening of the snout or short-legged breeds, must be protected and prohibit the breeding of animals that have to endure pain and suffering.

Behind these legal requirements is the desire to restore health to animals and to provide breeders with clear guidelines. The more people are interested in the topic and bring the grievances to light, the sooner animal protection in Germany can be strengthened. The existing regulations provide a legal basis for ensuring a sense of responsibility and compassion in animal breeding.