What we achieved in 2022 

2022 was a year full of dramatic events in our society and the rest of the world. In these troubled times, it is more important than ever that we stick to our conviction that a better world is possible not only for people, but also for animals. We have worked hard in 2022 to build a strong and sustainable organization and make a real difference for animals.

Here are the 10 most significant results of our work in 2022 and 2 of our most important projects that will be completed in the coming months.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank our supporters who trust in our work and our vision. None of these successes would have been possible without you. We wish everyone a peaceful 2023.

Animal (protection) policy in the mirror of society

Publication of a detailed survey on animal policy in Germany, ‘Animal (protection) policy in the mirror of society’ (Original title: ‘Tier(schutz)politik im Spiegel der Gesellschaft’), for a better understanding of the views and expectations of citizens with regard to animal welfare. The study was published in ‘Die Zeit’, one of the most respected weekly newspapers in Germany.

Our Study

Public seminar with „Sozis für Tiere“

In March 2022, we organized a public seminar together with ‘Sozis für Tiere’ (‘Socialists for animals’). Guests included Susanne Mittag (spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group on food and agriculture) – March – Animal Society presents the results of the aforementioned study (‘Animal (protection) policy in the mirror of society’) and discusses the political representation of animals.

SOZIS FÜR TIERE

Publications on the political representation of animals

Initiative paper “Chickens, deer, democracy – and how it works together – an initiative for a new animal policy” and policy paper for strengthening the political representation of animals. The publications are available in German and Englisch (.pdf and audio).

AN INITIATIVE FOR A NEW ANIMAL POLICYAN INITIATIVE FOR A NEW ANIMAL POLICY

Podcasts

Publication of 7 podcast episodes, among others with philosopher Friederike Schmitz, with member of the Bundestag Zoe Mayer, a pioneer for animal welfare in the parliamentary group of the Greens, with law professor Jens Bülte, the state animal welfare commissioner of the state of Berlin Kathrin Herrmann, professor of comparative administrative science and policy analysis Colette Vogeler and professor Peter Niesen on the political representation of animals.

OUR PODCAST "TIER UND JETZT"

Conferences

Animal Society participated in 4 conferences and gave talks or seminars (CARE Conference, European Vegan Summit, Effective Altruism Globalx, Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit), specifically on the topic of institutional change for animal representation. As the topic is still quite new within the animal rights movement, there is a need to raise awareness and discuss it.

Cooperation mit Sanctuaries

We visited 5 sanctuaries in Switzerland, Germany and the US to network with them, as they embody the kind of society we envision, where humans and animals live together peacefully. We have taken photos and videos that we want to share on our platforms. Many thanks to Hof Narr, Lebenshof Odenwald, Tamerlaine Sanctuary, Woodstock Sanctuary and Catskill Sanctuary for their hospitality and all they do for the animals.

#EUforAnimals – For an animal welfare commissioner

We also support the #EUforAnimals campaign calling for an EU Commissioner for Animal Welfare. Animal Society has been in contact with MEPs. So far, we have been able to get 10 MEPs to support the campaign, which is still ongoing.

CAMPAIGN PAGE #EUFORANIMALS

Ban on the killing of chicks in the European Union

In June 2022, we joined an international campaign to ban the killing of chicks in the European Union and began to approach the German government and EU institutions with public relations work. To this end, we were in contact with MEPs, German ministries and members of the Bundestag. In December, Animal Society submitted a detailed 67-page report on chick killing to the European Commission and also sent it to over 550 MEPs.

CAMPAIGN PAGE

Federal Commissioner for Animal Welfare

Launch of a special campaign to realise the promise in the federal government’s coalition agreement to create the office of a Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner. On 13 December 2022, we organised a parliamentary meeting in the Bundestag with politicians responsible for animal welfare and agriculture and are in contact with other NGOs and stakeholders to campaign for the office to be given effective powers to successfully improve animal welfare in Germany.

CAMPAIGN PAGE

Representing Animals: a new network

We have published ‘representinganimals.org/repraesentiere.org’ as a resource and campaign networking site. The aim is to bring together international research and global efforts by NGOs to strengthen animal interests in public institutions.

REPRESENTINGANIMALS.ORG

What’s coming up in 2023

Completion of the public observatory (www.tierpolitik.org) on animal welfare policy activities: more than 1000 activities of hundreds of members of the Bundestag were analysed. The website is currently being tested and fine-tuned. It is one of our largest projects to date and will be published in the coming months.

New web design

Our main page (animalsociety.de, soon also animalsociety.org) has been reprogrammed and is currently being finalised. More information pages have been written. The new website will be more user-friendly, contain twice as much information as at present and will have more English content to appeal to an international audience.