Germany’s Federal Commissioner for Animal Welfare, Ariane Kari, is advocating for the regulation of private dog breeding operations, a move currently lacking in existing legislation.
Currently, breeding licenses are only required for commercial dog breeders, typically assessed based on the number of breeding female dogs, usually determined by a threshold of three. Kari argues that this system allows individuals breeding with one or two female dogs to remain largely unregulated.
Expressing concern about the potential for poorly bred puppies and inherent animal welfare issues, Kari emphasized that responsible breeding requires a significant degree of knowledge and expertise. She believes that broadening the regulatory framework to encompass all dog breeding, regardless of commercial status, is essential to combat unethical and harmful breeding practices.
Appointed as the country’s first Federal Commissioner for Animal Welfare in June 2023 by former Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir, Kari’s contract is due to expire at the end of August. Her future role under the newly appointed Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer remains uncertain.
