Lindau celebrate puppy rescue: 7 poodle mixes find happiness!

Lindau celebrate puppy rescue: 7 poodle mixes find happiness!

In Weißensberg, the fourth birthday of a very special group is being celebrated these days with heart and paws. Bernhard and Patrick Leismüller have gathered their seven poodle mixes, who were rescued from an animal shelter three years ago, in a festively decorated barn. These little hearts originally come from Moldova, where they were confiscated during an inspection without a chip or documents and were found in a worrying condition. After a three-month quarantine in which they had no contact with other dogs or visitors, an appeal was launched in April 2022 to find suitable homes for the puppies. The success of this campaign is reflected in the smiling faces of their new owners.

The stories of the new masters and mistresses are touching. Roswitha Rauch enthusiastically talks about her mixed breed Dr. Quincy, who gave her a new quality of life. Bernhard has also found a loyal companion in Leo who shows him how important consistent dog training is. Monika is happy with Lotte, who gets along particularly well with her grandchildren. Fabian often takes Alfred to work at the puppet opera, and Claudia reports on the challenges with Barney, who has difficulty staying alone. These loving reports give an idea of ​​how much these dogs have enriched the lives of their people.

The illegal puppy trade remains a major problem

Despite these happy stories, the shameful illegal puppy trade remains a serious issue. The German Animal Welfare Association recently published the alarming figures for 2024. Accordingly, there were 224 documented cases of illegal pet trade, affecting at least 991 animals, including 515 dogs and 66 cats. Popular breeds such as Pomeranians, Maltese or French Bulldogs are particularly often affected, as they are often far too young and sick to be sold. Many of these animals are then confiscated in a condition that puts conservation organizations on alert. Romania has established itself as the leading country of origin - a sad result that has now continued for the ninth year in a row.

The problems are exacerbated by anonymous online trading. The German Animal Welfare Association criticizes the current political measures, which it considers to be insufficient. There are calls for anonymous online trading to be regulated more strictly and for dogs and cats to be microchipped and registered. Stricter regulations for animal exchanges and markets should also be on the agenda.

EU plans comprehensive measures against illegal trade

However, there are bright spots at the European level. The European Union has decided to introduce stricter controls on online sales. In the future, all dogs and cats in the EU must be identifiable with a microchip. There are transition periods of ten years for dogs and fifteen years for cats for the chip requirement. There are also plans to place greater restrictions on painful mutilations and the breeding of harmful traits. These measures are intended to make illegal trade much more difficult, reduce the abandonment of animals and make it easier to return escaped animals.

An important goal of all of these regulations is to improve protective measures and responsibility when purchasing animals. Animal shelter director Martina Schwendner strongly emphasizes the dangers of buying puppies anonymously on the Internet and the responsibility that every pet owner has when adopting a new member of the family.