Cat misery in Hagenow: City asks for information about suspension

Cat misery in Hagenow: City asks for information about suspension

On June 25th, frightening discoveries were made in the Hagenow region: near the gravel works in the Vier district, attentive citizens found several orange animal transport boxes. There were three cats inside - a male and two female cats - that had apparently been abandoned. This was also confirmed by Mayor Rico Reichelt, who made it clear that such behavior should be condemned as animal cruelty. This brutal practice shows once again how important animal protection is in our society, explains the [Nordkurier](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/hagenow/katzen-ausstellen-stadt-bittet-um- NOTES-3709291).

Initial examinations of the animals yielded alarming results: signs of neglect were clearly visible, including fleas and a pregnant cat. Despite their poor health, the animals showed remarkably friendly behavior. Such observations awaken people's compassion and ask us how we can best help.

Call for help

Mayor Reichelt calls on the public to be attentive and to give information if anyone notices anything suspicious. “It is important that the animals are in safe hands,” he explains. If you witness animal abuse or poor care, you should immediately notify the city or county veterinary office. This authority ensures compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and has the authority to take animals away if they are unwell, according to the information on Jugendtierschutz.de.

In the event of acute emergency situations or obvious animal cruelty, it is advisable to notify the police immediately and file a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor's office. Exact information must be provided, such as: who did what to which animal, when and where did the incident take place? It is also important to have witnesses who can corroborate your statements. Securing evidence, such as photos, is also advisable - but please only from the street, as entering other people's properties is not permitted.

Animal protection as a community task

The accommodation and care of found animals like these cats is not only an emotional exception, but also a financial burden for the municipality. The Hagenow Land office spent around 30,000 euros on the care of animals in 2024, as [Nordkurier](https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/hagenow/katzen-ausstellen-stadt-bittet-um- Notices-3709291) reports. Unfortunately, the problems mentioned are not just local. In Germany there are numerous cases of animal cruelty across the country, which are recorded in an interactive “Map of Animal Cruelty”. This database, which was launched by organizations such as ANINOVA, ARIWA and Soko Tierschutz, has been documenting animal welfare scandals since 2016 and shows the systematic mistreatment of animals, including many cases in animal breeding and keeping.

In the first half of 2024, more than 30 farms were identified that were targeted for animal cruelty, showing that the problem still exists. The vast majority of reports have hardly any consequences; only four of the 214 documented cases have so far resulted in prison sentences. The ANINOVA figures suggest that we urgently need to do more to protect animals.

The incidents surrounding the abandoned cats are an urgent appeal to raise awareness of animal protection and responsible animal husbandry. Each of us can contribute to the solution, whether by reporting cases of abuse or by supporting local animal shelters and initiatives. Only together can we improve the living conditions of the animals in our area and prevent us from having to hear such heartbreaking stories again.