Animal welfare association has a hole in the donation pot

Where does the shoe print in animal welfare, womogly financially? This is what we wanted to know from the chairman of the association, wolfgang hain. Mr. Hain, compared to last year, the animal welfare association is lacking donations, as it is said. How much is the total? Wolfgang hain: according to our treasurer hans beyer we are at this point about 10000 euro below the previous year’s level. 2018 went well in terms of donations. Have donors disappeared?? Or what is the reason for the decline?? It’s not that easy to say, there are several things that play into it. Sometimes a larger donation is missing, then it is a few thousand euros. We were lucky to get a couple of really rough grants last year. But we are not that well positioned every year. Is there then every year a shortfall? The past years always ended with an economic loss. What is the balance? What are the revenues and expenditures made up of?? We calculated average values. As a result, our expenses per year amount to about 160000 euro for the maintenance of the shelter and shelter operations – of which about 30000 euro are for veterinary costs alone. That is a big lump. We generate constant income from our membership fees of 16,000 euros, animal donations and sponsorships of 20,000 euros, events such as the animal shelter festival of 15,000 euros, and the same amount from current donations. In addition, there are 35000 euros from the lost and found animal tax. These come from the municipalities, because animal welfare is a municipal duty. Exactly. Every municipality is responsible under the animal welfare act to take care of found animals. This task has been delegated finally for the city and the district of kulmbach bundled to the animal protection association, in return we get from each community per inhabitant and year 50 cent. This is how the 35,000 euros in question come together.

Is that enough?

Not really. According to calculations of the german animal protection association the levy had to increase up to 1,50 euro to cover the costs. The money from this pot is not enough for us in any year. When, as happened some time ago in presseck, for a single castration action alone nearly 2500 euro accumulate, you know how quickly the sum is used up. In the past, the fee was only 25 cents, but fortunately our municipalities supported the doubling to 50 cents. But we know that cities and municipalities are in financial trouble themselves. How can the minus be kept?? Sometimes we as a club benefit from an inheritance – which is tax-free for us – which then carries us again for a few months. But of course we also have to save money, so certain things that are not quite so urgent are sometimes left undone. The animals themselves should not lack anything in their care and support, this has top priority. We have already heard about the cat neutering campaign, for which the animal welfare association is asking for donations. Is there some kind of discount for veterinarians?? No, veterinarians are not allowed to charge such services for us as an association in any other way, they must always take the rate that the fee schedule provides for. And only one castration of the female costs about 135 euro. Had to save such actions? It would be counterproductive, because unhindered multiplication automatically brings more "customers" to animal welfare – with delay, because there are more cats. In this respect, these actions have paid off so far and have been reflected in noticeably decreasing numbers. We therefore try to keep this up within the framework of our financial possibilities. How many members does the association have and how much is the membership fee?? At the moment it is 580. The annual contribution starts at the minimum fee of 30 euro per year – there are no upper limits. Everybody can get rid of his millions with us (laughs). I think we can claim to be extremely frugal, also thanks to our good treasurer. In our country the possibilities of saving money are also limited. What is the situation with the workplaces? In addition to the director susi schilling, two other permanent employees work at the animal shelter. They all pay the association, we have to earn the keepers over the year, no one takes over anything from us. Besides that we pay for electricity and water, finance renovations and refurbishments. So we also come to the said amount of about 160000 euros in expenses, because the club maintains the home with all the trimmings. What is the benefit of the animal shelter festival?? It brings us a certain economic profit and brings us one or two new members and maybe a few donations. But above all, it is an opportunity to draw attention to ourselves and to show people what our work is like. Has animal welfare work become more difficult over the years? In a way already. What few people realize is that the animal welfare act does not contain any legal provisions for us. We were not allowed to do anything: we were not allowed to rescue animals or take them out of bad conditions, we were not even allowed to enter a private garden. We have to contact the veterinary office in any case, also in case of information from third parties. The office must first become active, only then we are in the boat. We can only talk to the keepers or owners of animals without obligation, often we only get a shake of the head. What would happen if the association stopped?? Then each municipality had to ensure that the supply of animals was guaranteed in its area. But we do more than that and also take in relinquished animals, for example when their owners die or become ill. Most animal shelters are struggling with similarly high costs and decreasing subsidies. But it’s not just about the tethered dog at the highway rest stop during the vacation season. In the meantime, it happens more and more often that illegal transports are stopped and an animal shelter is forced to take in 20 puppies at once. There one comes fast alone quantitatively to borders.

Talking about dogs: at the moment we are full, we just got a doberman and a sheepdog, plus the two newcomers from our partner club from hungary. The number of cats is about 40, which is a relatively small number for our conditions, so we have to act. How love helps the shelter? The most effective help is financial. It would be great if people with manual skills could help – from repairing the leaking water pipe and the broken power cable to mending the fence or mowing the lawn. Such things remain undone in case of emergency, because other things come first. We still have to tackle some renovation projects this year. Unplanned additional expenses of over 30,000 euros are quickly incurred. Whoever could help us, we accepted with a big hand. Help food donations? Yes, but fortunately we have a relatively large number, thanks in part to the donation boxes in various supermarkets and discount stores, as well as in pet shops. We also accept all possible donations directly. It would be helpful if the donor would ask in advance what is needed.