Freital city councilors are calling for a return to the animal protection association – what now?

Freital city councilors are calling for a return to the animal protection association – what now?

A fresh wind is blowing through the Freital animal shelter, but the situation remains tense. The Freital animal welfare association currently has 22 dogs and several cats for adoption, but continues to struggle with the challenges that arose after it separated from the city nine months ago. Despite considerable efforts, there is a lot to do and even less money to help the animals. Now the citizens are putting pressure on Freital-Freie Voters to restore cooperation with the animal protection association. According to a report by Sächsische.de The city council has already submitted an application that advocates increasing financial support to the old level of 1.30 euros per resident.

The city of Freital paid a total of 52,000 euros to the animal protection association by the end of 2024, but recent developments indicate an increase to 60,000 euros, which is considered an important step. In comparison, other municipalities pay at least 1.60 euros per resident. However, some citizens believe that Freital is neglecting its responsibilities, especially as the costs of rehoming animals in the region are rising. At the moment, Freital residents have to hand over their found animals to the Meißen-Winkwitz animal shelter, which costs less - but this still leads to a noticeable decline in local animal care.

Support for the animal shelter

The Freital animal shelter not only relies on donations, but also on the active participation of the community. The charity run “Run with Heart – For Our Animals” took place on September 28th in the Heinz Steyer Stadium. This run mobilized numerous supporters, confirmed the good cooperation in animal protection and promoted awareness of the animal shelter's concerns. This year, 19 animals from Freital have already been housed in the Meißen animal shelter, which illustrates the urgency of the support.

The opening hours of the Freital animal shelter are daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with visitors warmly welcomed on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Contacts for questions and information can be reached on 0351 6413222. The branch in Reichstädt is also available by arrangement to ensure individual care for the animals. In the interests of sustainable support, animal lovers can also use certain suppliers when shopping without having to pay more themselves to support animal welfare.

Future outlook and challenges

While the city of Freital continues to examine options to reintegrate the found animals into local care in a timely manner, citizens are demanding a transparent presentation of the financial aspects. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. The animal welfare association cannot currently deviate from its price expectations when it comes to cooperation with the city. The pressure on the city is increasing because the safety and well-being of the animals are at stake. It is to be hoped that political decision-makers will recognize the importance of a strong animal welfare community and take collective responsibility.