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- The animal welfare situation in Germany<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How organizations & volunteers get involved in animal welfare<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What you should look out for when volunteering in animal welfare<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find your volunteer position in animal welfare at vostel.de<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about volunteering in animal welfare<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
1. The animal welfare situation in Germany<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"animals](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/BLOG-Zwischenbilder-Vorlage-1.200x400-px-30-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat kinds of animals live in Germany?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Before we look at the exact figures, we should first take a look at the different groups of animals that live in Germany (a compact overview can be found here<\/a>). These can be divided into <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Domestic animals<\/strong>: refers to all animals that live with humans, whether in the home, garden or stable. Accordingly, ducks, cattle, pigs and sheep are also considered pets. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Pets<\/strong>: describes a sub-category of domestic animals. This refers to animals that people keep as companions for pleasure. These are mainly cats, dogs, rodents, but also parrots and fish. (Important: the term does not refer to the animals living in animal shelters).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Wild animals<\/strong>: this refers to all animals that live freely in the wild.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- Farm animals<\/strong>: includes all animals that are used for the production of animal products such as food, wool or leather. These can be both domestic and wild animals. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How many animals live in Germany?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Pets<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Around 33.9 million pets<\/strong> live in around 44 percent of all households<\/strong>, including around 15.9 million cats and 10.5 million dogs<\/strong> as well as 4.3 million small animals and 3.2 million ornamental birds<\/strong> (further figures on other animal species can be found at Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Animals at the shelter<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Every year, an estimated 350,000 animals are cared for in German animal shelters <\/strong>(source: Deutschlandfunk, projection on animal shelter admissions<\/a>).<\/strong> These include dogs, cats and other small animals that have been abandoned, surrendered or found. Resources are often very scarce and many animal shelters are overcrowded, which is why the support of volunteers is an important pillar of support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wild animals<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
In total, there are around 48,000 animal species<\/strong> in Germany. Around one in three animal species is considered endangered or already extinct<\/strong>, which corresponds to around 35 percent of the species assessed<\/strong>. Particularly affected are insects, birds and many amphibian species, whose habitats are increasingly being lost (source: Federal Government – Biodiversity and Species Conservation<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farm animals<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The situation of farm animals is also a key issue in animal welfare. At the end of 2024, around 10.5 million cattle<\/strong>, 21.3 million pigs<\/strong> and around 167 million poultry<\/strong> were kept in Germany. Questions about species-appropriate husbandry, space and health care are at the heart of social debates and the work of many animal welfare organizations (source: BMEL statistics on animal husbandry<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. How organizations & volunteers get involved in animal welfare<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Intermediate](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BLOG-Zwischenbilder-Vorlage-1.200x400-px-23-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat non-profit organizations do<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Non-profit animal welfare organizations take in animals in need, organize medical care, provide care, support and placement and work to ensure species-appropriate living conditions. Many also carry out important educational work, provide information on responsible animal husbandry and draw attention to abuses. For many initiatives, campaigning for better legal conditions is also part of animal welfare work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important organizations include the Deutsche Tierschutzbund<\/a> with its affiliated animal shelters, Vier Pfoten<\/a>, PETA Germany<\/a>, NABU<\/a>, BUND<\/a>, Animals’ Angels<\/a> and also local animal shelters or animal rescues in many German cities. In addition, numerous smaller associations and initiatives are involved locally, for example for street cats, injured wild animals or the protection of certain animal species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How volunteers are involved<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Volunteers provide support by working directly with animals at the shelter<\/strong>, for example by walking, grooming, training or caring for dogs, cats or small animals. This often creates routines, trust and closeness that noticeably improve the animals’ everyday lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also many activities that do not involve direct contact with animals<\/strong>. Volunteers provide support with organizational tasks, at events and information stands or are involved in public relations work, for example as part of campaigns. This work ensures that animal welfare becomes visible and that organizations can further develop their services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Typical fields of voluntary work in animal welfare<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"volunteerinig](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/10-1024x341.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nVolunteers can get involved in animal welfare in a variety of ways, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Looking after and caring for<\/strong> animals in animal shelters or rescue centers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Walking, occupation and social care<\/strong> of dogs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Support with the care<\/strong> of cats, small animals or wild animals<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Help with campaigns, information stands and events<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Collaboration in public relations<\/strong>, for example in social media, campaigns or fundraising activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Organizational support in the background<\/strong>, for example with appointments, administrative tasks or mediation processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Walking, occupation and social care<\/strong> of dogs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Looking after and caring for<\/strong> animals in animal shelters or rescue centers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Farm animals<\/strong>: includes all animals that are used for the production of animal products such as food, wool or leather. These can be both domestic and wild animals. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Wild animals<\/strong>: this refers to all animals that live freely in the wild.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Pets<\/strong>: describes a sub-category of domestic animals. This refers to animals that people keep as companions for pleasure. These are mainly cats, dogs, rodents, but also parrots and fish. (Important: the term does not refer to the animals living in animal shelters).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- How organizations & volunteers get involved in animal welfare<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
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![\"Intermediate](\"https:\/\/vostel.de\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BLOG-Zwischenbilder-Vorlage-1.200x400-px-25-1024x341.png\")
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