Animal shelter director Horst Theilinger says goodbye after 32 years

Animal shelter director Horst Theilinger says goodbye after 32 years

After 32 years of dedicated work for the animals in Esslingen, Horst Theilinger, the head of the animal shelter, is saying goodbye to his well-deserved retirement. His last day of work is July 10, 2025. During his tenure, Theilinger made the animal shelter an important point of contact for animal protection and help, and his departure will be painfully felt in the animal shelter and the entire region. David Koch, chairman of the Esslingen animal protection association, will also be resigning from his position in a few months, which will bring an era of animal protection to an end in Esslingen. Theilinger plans to spend more time with his dog Tina, with whom he has previously shared the animal shelter, and is now allowing himself a little rest from the challenges of the animal shelter.

However, the animal shelter in Esslingen is not only facing positive changes, but is also facing major challenges. Many animal shelters in Germany, including the one in Esslingen, cannot accept all unwanted animals. An alarming number of more than 50 percent of German animal shelters are full or overfull, which does not make the situation any easier for the animals and the employees. This was also confirmed by the visit of the CDU Bundestag candidate Dr. David Preisdanz and the CDU state party and parliamentary group leader Manuel Hagel in Esslingen, who got an idea of ​​the high burden on the animal shelter.

Financial burden and commitment

The Esslingen animal shelter spends around 365,000 euros a year on veterinary costs and looks after around 250 animals. But the financial situation is further complicated by unexpected events, such as the closure of the animal shelter for four weeks due to a parvo virus outbreak, which caused additional costs of 20,000 euros. Fortunately, many private donors can support the animal shelter financially, which is a ray of hope in the difficult situation.

Manuela Eberspächer, a committed animal rights activist, advocates for a comprehensive cat protection regulation that includes castration, identification and registration requirements. While the city of Esslingen has already implemented this important regulation, implementation is still lacking in many surrounding communities. Only 117 out of 1,001 municipalities in Baden-Württemberg have taken similar steps so far. Here David Preisdanz sees the responsibility of politicians to urgently find solutions.

The responsibility of animal protection

The topic of animal welfare is a hotly debated topic in Germany. The challenge is to make animal welfare more concrete, while animal protection measures are urgently needed. According to the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms, which define the welfare of animals, species-specific needs must also be taken into account in addition to freedom from hunger. In this context, animal protection organizations play a crucial role. According to Statista, around 8.3 percent of private donations went to animal welfare in 2023, which shows that many people are willing to work for the welfare of animals.

It is still time for the commitment to animal protection to not only continue to be supported, but also to be actively promoted by politicians. The participation of politicians like Preisdanz and Hagel in visits to the animal shelter is a first step, but more is needed to sustainably address the challenges facing animal shelters. The Esslingen animal shelter will continue to be an important part of the animal protection movement in the region, even if it is currently undergoing upheaval.