Following the indictment filed by the Detmold public prosecutor's office against the primary person responsible for the Lemgo-Vossheide earth dog trial facility, Ralf H., the hearing at the Lemgo District Court took place on 22.12.2022.
PETA had filed criminal and regulatory complaints against all persons responsible for the keeping of foxes at the end of January 2020. During the main hearing this morning, the court instructed the defendant to develop an alternative for training dogs for hobby hunting — without live foxes. Until then, the proceedings will be suspended for six months. The judge stated his intention to maintain pressure on the facility's operator to bring about the necessary changes. He also emphasised that he sees no necessity for fox hunting in itself. The animal rights organisation is now calling for the closure of all more than 100 earth dog trial facilities nationwide.
The years-long violations at the Lemgo-Vossheide earth dog trial facility should now finally come to an end. Since the judge demanded alternatives to the current training practice involving live foxes, we now expect a ban on all such facilities in Germany. Earth dog trial facilities fundamentally violate the Animal Welfare Act. The foxes held captive there are torn from nature and kept confined for life for the purposes of hunting dog training for the cruel earth hunting practice.
Dr. Edmund Haferbeck, Senior Head of Special Projects at PETA
Expert witnesses confirm prolonged, severe suffering
In the documented use of animals at the earth dog trial facility — as presented in the indictment — PETA sees a violation of Section 17 Number 2b of the Animal Welfare Act. The recordings are in the possession of the authorities. Among other things, they show a fox pacing back and forth in the enclosure. According to the public prosecutor's office, the animal was, contrary to what had been claimed, a wild-caught specimen. The fox exhibited so-called stereotypic behaviour. In addition, the animals laid their ears back and tucked in their tails. Both are clear signs that they were under severe stress. Expert assessors also confirmed that the foxes in the video had been subjected to prolonged, considerable suffering. A veterinarian from the State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection (LANUV) in North Rhine-Westphalia assessed the video as follows: “Over a period of at least 23 minutes, the fox repeatedly demonstrates that it perceives itself to be in an acute threat situation. A few ‘calm phases’ can also be observed, but these generally last only a few seconds. This represents a rather apathetic response to the stress situation.” A further expert assessor operates a fox rescue centre. He pointed out that the enclosure shown in the video is far too small, that the animals are kept individually contrary to their nature, and that no enrichment materials whatsoever are available to them.
Schliefe facility Lemgo-Vossheide known for its deficiencies
The inadequate care of the foxes kept locked in the facility for several days had already been the subject of criminal proceedings before the Lemgo District Court in 2018. At that time, PETA also submitted a petition to the district administrator demanding that the facility be closed.
In some European countries, Schliefe facilities have long been banned on animal welfare grounds, while in Germany there are still around 100 such establishments of this kind for the depraved. These are mostly located far from public view.
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