Overview
- Germany’s federal veterinary chamber issued a public warning against gifting live animals for Christmas, citing welfare risks and long-term costs.
- Multiple shelters have holiday placement freezes, including a full pause in Northeim until mid-January with limited exceptions, a stop in Kreis Unna before Christmas, and a freeze in Oelzschau until the new year, with pauses also noted in Berlin and Hamburg.
- Shelter staff report more pre-Christmas requests to relinquish pets, and a Bremen official has cited figures suggesting up to 30% of holiday animals are quickly returned, with illegal online “bargain puppies” flagged as a recurring problem.
- Authorities and welfare groups recommend alternatives such as shelter sponsorships, gift vouchers, trial visits or fostering, and the federal online adviser at www.haustier-berater.de.
- Advocates stress that care decisions must be made by adults and that animals are not suitable as surprise presents for children.