Advocates Push for Stricter Punishments in Cases of Animal Abuse - Stricter penalties demanded for instances of animal abuse by the Greens
The German Green Party has made a bold move in its 2025 Election Programme, proposing stronger animal welfare laws to combat animal cruelty. This initiative includes the establishment of specialized public prosecutors’ offices dedicated to animal welfare crimes, with a focus on longer sentences for those found guilty of serious animal abuse.
The party's demands are driven by a need for deterrence and improved judicial handling. By increasing the severity of punishments and designating specific prosecution capacity for animal welfare violations, the Greens aim to send a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated.
Recent scandals in the industry have prompted the Green Party's call for a tougher approach. A pig farm in the Allgäu region is suspected of committing serious animal welfare violations, with shocking images of filthy stalls and sick and injured animals being published by animal rights organization Soko Tierschutz.
The Greens have submitted two applications to the responsible district office for the establishment of these specialized departments. They are advocating for higher penalties for animal abusers, with a proposed minimum sentence of six months for intentional animal cruelty. The party has also proposed an increase in the penalty range for animal cruelty in the Animal Welfare Act, from the current three years to up to five years imprisonment.
The criminal complaint by the KBLV (control authority for food safety and veterinary affairs) against the pig farm has been filed with the public prosecutor's office in Memmingen. However, the Greens are not satisfied with the lack of action from the Bavarian state government regarding animal welfare scandals.
Paul Knoblach, the Greens' spokesperson for animal welfare, stated that intentional animal suffering should be visibly and effectively punished. Katharina Schulze, the parliamentary group leader of the Greens, added that Bavaria has frequent animal welfare scandals with repeated cases of cruel mistreatment and dead animals.
The Greens have also advocated for the creation of specialized prosecutorial units focused on animal welfare offenses. These units are expected to improve legal enforcement, expertise, and case processing, aligning with international efforts such as the Council of Europe’s increasing focus on environmental and animal crime legislation.
The state government in Bavaria has expressed regret over animal welfare scandals but has not taken significant action. The Greens are no longer willing to accept this inaction and are pushing for change in the Bavarian legal system. The Green Party's demands for animal welfare reforms are specific to Bavaria, but their commitment to upholding the rule of law and improving animal welfare is clear.
- The German Green Party, in their 2025 Election Programme, has proposed integrating the principles of science and health-and-wellness into their reforms for animal welfare laws, aiming to ensure the well-being of livestock based on current research and best practices.
- Recognizing the significant impact of mental-health issues on both humans and animals, the Greens have called for a policy-and-legislation overhaul that prioritizes the prevention of mental stress in farm animals and the provision of mental health support for farmers.
- In the realm of general-news and politics, the Green Party's tough stance on animal welfare violations, as demonstrated by their advocacy for harsher penalties and specialized prosecutorial units, is thought to set a precedent for stronger policy-and-legislation and improved mental-health outcomes for animals, fostering a morejust and humane society.
