Once again photos show ruthless training methods, but the lobby continues to fight tenaciously to make this type of training possible for everyone. Eleven major animal protection organizations are now forming a common front and calling for strong action.
The photos were taken south of Graz a long time ago. The dog sports area in Unterpremstätten is officially recognized as a training location by the Austrian Dog Association (ÖKV) and offers training with “heart and mind” on the homepage.
The animal welfare expert and former official veterinarian Prof. Dr. Rudolf Winkelmayer is shocked: “It is clear that cruel training methods, as clearly visible in this video, must be stopped immediately! Animal welfare-friendly, contemporary dog training must be carried out with a lot of empathy and based on current behavioral biological findings.”
Strong together
A broad alliance of animal protection organizations has now been formed, because the case shown is certainly not the only one. They have formulated a joint statement (see below) that provides for uniform and better regulations for the benefit of animals and humans.
According to the police, the case from the video is now before the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Graz and investigations against the main actors shown are underway. At the ÖKV press conference scheduled today on the topic “Purpose dog sport is not the problem” they – as always – distanced themselves from these types of scenes.
False fear mongering
The ÖKV and other interest representatives practice reconciliation. However, they rely on deliberately false reports and upset many dog owners through scaremongering. One broadcast mentions a “play ban for dogs” and that in the future the training of rescue, guide and therapy dogs would also be prohibited. This is of course wrong.
Signs are good
On Tuesday, the “Krone” met animal protection spokespersons Josef Hechenberger (ÖVP) and Dietmar Keck (SPÖ) to discuss necessary improvements. “It would be desirable if the training of private protection dogs were banned not only in Vienna, but in the entire country. The controversial “working dog training” should only be carried out by trainers who can be proven to have animal welfare qualifications,” Tierecke boss Maggie Entenfellner said after the promising appointment.
United front of animal rights activists
In a joint statement from the largest NGOs, so-called protection training, in which a dog is trained to bite on command into a so-called protective arm carried by a person, is clearly rejected.
Clear statement
“Protection work should be reserved exclusively for authorities, because there is sufficient reason to believe that the aggressiveness and thus the danger of dogs is at least temporarily increased by the so-called protection dog training,” the animal rights activists make clear.
Eleven organizations join forces!
Tierschutz Austria, Vier Pfoten, Tierschutzverband Neder-Oostenrijk, Noah’s Ark, Association against Animal Factories, Gut Aiderbichl, Tierquartier Wien, Tierschutzombudsstelle Wien, Pro Tier, Pfotenhilfe Lochen and the Friends of the Crown Tierecke Association jointly speak out in favor of a general ban on bite and attack training for private dogs.
You can read the detailed statement here.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
