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A small dog presses itself anxiously against a person wearing a blue shirt.

Protect Animals

We fight for animals in need. Your donation provides protection, warmth, and saves lives.

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Introduction

Who we are

The German Animal Welfare Federation is the umbrella organization for animal shelters and animal welfare associations in Germany, and the largest animal welfare umbrella group in Germany and Europe.

A rescued dog from the Odessa animal welfare center leans gratefully against a caregiver.

We help animals

We run our own rescue centers for pets in need, support our animal shelters and welfare associations with food, supplies, and emergency aid, and operate a unique street animal project in Ukraine.

Two young women hold protest signs in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate.

We raise awareness

We bring urgent animal welfare issues into the public spotlight through our campaigns, raise awareness among the public, and provide guidance on animal welfare issues.

Thomas Schroeder speaks at a protest action for animal shelters in front of the chancellery.

We push policymakers

We put pressure on policymakers, hold talks in the German Bundestag, with the federal government, and in the European Parliament, and make animal welfare visible in political processes.

A researcher works in a laboratory with test tubes.

We rely on science

Our Academy for Animal Welfare is the German Animal Welfare Federation's ideas lab. This is where scientists develop the foundations for our animal welfare work.

What we work on

Our animal welfare priorities

A sleeping cat lies under a blanket beside a tire.
Campaign

Cat protection

A caregiver feeds raccoons at the Weidefeld animal welfare center.

Weidefeld animal welfare center

A dog and a cat sit side by side in front of a dark background.
Campaign

Animal shelters need help

A pig in a crate looks straight into the camera.

Animals in agriculture

Three rescued dogs sit in the Odessa animal welfare center and look into the camera.

Animal welfare in Odessa

A caregiver pets a dog at Sonnenhof.

Dogs at Sonnenhof

Illustrated newsletter graphic in magenta and blue.

Subscribe to the newsletter

Sign up for our free newsletter and never miss updates from our animal welfare centers, our actions, and our campaigns.

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Popular pages

Two cats sit in the grass.

Municipalities with mandatory cat neutering

A cat eats from a silver bowl.

Feeding cats properly

A dog lies on a path and is being petted.

Seminars for members

An emaciated dog sits chained in front of a doghouse.

Report animal cruelty

Three guinea pigs eat grass in an outdoor enclosure.

Keeping guinea pigs

Close-up of a kitten.

How you can help

Media

TV spots

Donation campaigns that make animals visible and move people directly to help.

Animal shelters near you

Our shelter search helps you find the contact details of member animal shelters, animal welfare associations, and regional branches near you.

Search now
Map view with many animal shelter locations across Germany.
A small street cat sits next to a tire.

Help for street cats

The suffering of street cats has become one of the biggest animal welfare problems in Germany. Hunger, thirst, parasites, and infections are part of the daily struggle to survive for many animals. Please help us fund food, vaccinations, and neutering.

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