Animal shelters in Germany have banned people from adopting pets over the Christmas holiday period – according to a report on Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany’s public international broadcaster.
Shelter staff have told the broadcaster that anyone who does not understand why the measure has been introduced is “probably the wrong person to adopt”.
Turned away
From about 15 December, anyone turning up to shelters in major cities such as Berlin, Hanover or Bremen to adopt will be turned away and asked to return in January.
Arvid Possekel, from the Hanover Animal Shelter, told DW: “The temporary stop is there so animals do not end up under the Christmas tree, because animals simply are not presents. Ideally, they become members of the family – and you just don’t give family members as presents.”
Loving homes
All shelters are happy to receive people willing to provide homes to animals and offer them advice on adoption.
Families simply have to wait until January to collect them. The vast majority are happy to do so, reports DW.
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