After the “Krone” report on the Horrorhof in the St. Pölten district, Lower Austria is becoming a pioneer in animal protection: the new intervention force is intended to uncover impending animal suffering much more quickly and become a role model for all federal states.
State Vice Stephan Pernkopf knows that only one in four animal welfare reports affects farms. But the extent is often particularly bad. In order to put a stop to these few black sheep among farmers, private “animal collectors” and unscrupulous dealers and breeders more efficiently, Austria’s largest federal state is pushing ahead with a new “task force”. In the future, this should act independently of the district authorities and their official veterinarians. Controls are increasing Cases such as the Horrorhof in the St. Pölten district, in which hundreds of animals were kept under the most adverse conditions for years and died in agony, are evidence of official failure. “Something like this mustn’t happen again and must be punished much more quickly,” emphasizes Tierschutz-Landesrat Gottfried Waldhäusl. The farm in question was inspected 49 (!) times and there was never a ban on keeping animals, the committed politician is stunned.Sick animal collectorsBut tragedies keep happening in private households too, and the wheels of the authorities grind very slowly. In the summer of last year, 107 Chihuahuas had to be taken from a geriatric nurse in the Waldviertel. The lady was officially known that there were no controls for several reasons – such as the change of the official veterinarian: “They are small dogs, that was justifiable for us,” says district captain Stefan Grusch. Politics is finally becoming active An alliance for animal protection is now forming Pernkopf and Waldhäusl – the new task force will be active as early as next year. Under the auspices of the Animal Welfare State Council, up to four trained control bodies are deployed, which only deal with suspected cases of animal cruelty. Nationwide model All other federal states should quickly follow suit Hofer-Kasztler, who advises politicians as an experienced veterinarian. It remains to be hoped that the other federal states will not fall into hibernation when it comes to animal welfare, while Lower Austria is busy acting like a bee.
source site-12