Animal Husbandry - Information and Registration

Ensuring proper husbandry and thus the well-being of animals.

Humans are responsible for animals as fellow creatures and must protect their lives and well-being. No one may inflict pain, suffering, or harm on an animal without a reasonable cause. Anyone who keeps or cares for an animal must have the necessary knowledge and skills for the appropriate feeding, care, and behavioral accommodation of the animal. (§ 1 ff Animal Welfare Act)

Official veterinary monitoring in the area of animal welfare covers both commercial and all private animal husbandry. In commercial animal husbandry, which must have an animal welfare permit according to § 11 of the Animal Welfare Act, unannounced inspections are regularly carried out. Agricultural animal husbandry is checked for compliance with animal welfare requirements. Similarly, the commercial transport of animals by livestock traders and freight forwarders is subject to official veterinary monitoring.

Another focus of the activity is advising animal owners on the accommodation and care of animals of various kinds.

Citizens can report grievances if they consider the keeping of animals to be in violation of animal welfare. As precise information as possible about the type of animal, number of animals, animal owner, location, and grievances must be provided.