Horrific case: heavily pregnant cat abandoned in Salzgitter!

Horrific case: heavily pregnant cat abandoned in Salzgitter!

At the Salzgitter animal shelter, everything revolves around the well-being of the animals. The facility is not only responsible for rehoming missing furry friends, but also takes in lost animals and tries to locate their owners. A particularly dramatic case occurred recently: On September 3, 2025, a heavily pregnant, deaf cat was found on Dutzumerstrasse in Lebenstedt. Animal shelter staff are horrified by the cat's condition and regularly share pictures of lost animals on Facebook to reach potential owners. A report from news38 explains that the facility is asking for information about the cat, which can be submitted either by phone or email.

But the Salzgitter animal shelter is not only concerned with the happiness of the animals found. A recent incident has caused a great stir and anger. Another heavily pregnant cat was abandoned right in front of the animal shelter. She was soaking wet, hypothermic and left alone in a transport box. The facility describes such acts as animal cruelty and a criminal offense. A call is being launched to the public to identify the responsible owner of the abandoned cat. This case is not the first of its kind, as there have been similar incidents in the past, as t-online reports.

The fight for animal welfare

The situation in the Salzgitter animal shelter also raises questions about animal welfare, which is increasingly being discussed in Germany. In general, animal welfare is understood to mean the recognition of species-specific needs, while animal protection includes concrete measures to improve animal welfare. A fuss has arisen about animal husbandry and corresponding standards in recent years, also with regard to the keeping of pets. There are around 34 million pets in Germany, with cats and dogs being particularly popular. Current statistics show that 8.3 percent of private donations now go to animal welfare. This development is being driven, among other things, by a growing awareness of the welfare of animals, as a survey from 2021 shows: Around 50 percent of those surveyed can imagine spending more money on products from more animal-friendly husbandry, as Statista notes.

The challenges facing animal shelters are numerous, and the cases of abandoned animals are not only a moral issue, but also a legal issue. The Salzgitter animal shelter therefore sees it as its duty to report relevant incidents and take action against animal cruelty. The appeal to the public is clear: anyone who has information about the current cases or other abandoned animals should definitely come forward to help the affected animals. It is all the more up to us to advocate for animal protection and to initiate a rethink in society.