Heat tragedy in Radeberg: Can the irresponsible breeder stay?

Heat tragedy in Radeberg: Can the irresponsible breeder stay?

In Radeberg, the animal protection community is sounding the alarm. Last Wednesday, July 5, 2025, 25 Champagne Silver rabbits were rescued from an unfortunate situation by officials and dedicated volunteers. The animals, which were kept in boxes that were far too small and in extreme heat conditions, suffered greatly. Three of them died before help arrived. Police were alerted by concerned residents who had heard the suffering bunnies. The owner, a 74-year-old German breeder, had housed the animals during the day in the blazing sun and without sufficient exercise, like the Saxon Newspaper reported.

The surviving rabbits are currently housed in the Radeberg animal shelter. Ines Malkusch, the head of the animal protection association, has launched an appeal for donations to secure food and bedding for the animals in need. But the story takes a legal turn: the police have initiated administrative offense proceedings because the breeder's behavior violates the Animal Welfare Act. According to the Animal Protection Act, animals must be protected not only from physical suffering, but also from mistreatment and inadequate care. For this purpose, the veterinary office could issue a ban on keeping animals against him.

What is at stake?

For a ban on keeping animals, certain violations must be present, such as inadequate nutrition, care and freedom of movement. The veterinary office was informed, but was not on site. It is now being examined whether the breeder will no longer be allowed to keep rabbits in the future. Interestingly, such a ban is indefinite and affects the specific species in which the violations were found. However, the breeder has the opportunity to apply for the ban to be lifted if he is able to prove that he will ensure the welfare of his animals in the future.

“We not only want to save the existing animals, but also make it clear that such violations will not be tolerated,” said Malkusch. According to reports, there are already seven animal ownership bans this year, but none specifically for rabbit owners. There is agreement in the animal protection community that the enforcement of animal protection law needs to be improved in order to prevent future mistreatment at an early stage.

The legal background

The Animal Protection Act, which applies to all animals in Germany, imposes the responsibility on owners to ensure species-appropriate husbandry. Violations can be punished under both the Animal Protection Act and the Criminal Code. A ban on keeping animals can be issued by the responsible authorities if the legal requirements are repeatedly or grossly violated. However, there are significant challenges to be overcome; cabaret-like reports show deficiencies in the enforcement of animal protection laws. The Animal Welfare Association reports that animal welfare violations are often not adequately prosecuted because the authorities lack the resources.

The incident in Radeberg now makes it clear how important it is to keep your eyes open for grievances and to act quickly. Let’s not leave the voices of animals unheard! Everyone can make a contribution, be it through donations or by reporting grievances. Animal protection is a shared task and every one of us is responsible.