Bachelor Thesis - Christina Kuenen - Hufpfleger

2.4.2 Laws and Regulations in Animal Welfare in Germany
The animal protection act exists since 1972. Further since 2002 animals are protected within the basic law.
Animals were added into a paragraph of this and since then animal welfare a state’s aim (BRD, 2002).
The animal protection act aims to protect the lives and well-being of animals, based on the responsibility of
human beings for their fellow creatures (BRD, 2006c). The Act says that no one may cause an animal pain,
suffering or harm without good reason (§ 1 TierSchG).
In paragraph two, which is also important in terms of hoof treatment, it is written down that a person keeping
or caring for or required to care for an animal has to provide the animal with food, care and housing
appropriate to its species, its requirements and behaviour. Further the possibility if the species-specific
freedom of movement may not be restricted to such an extent as to cause the animal pain or avoidable
suffering or harm. Somebody must possess the knowledge and skills necessary for providing the animal with
adequate food, care and housing in accordance with its behavioural requirements (§ 2 TierSchG). § 2a
authorizes the BMELV to develop additional regulations to give a more detailed standard of the previously
mentioned content ( § 2a TierSchG) (BRD, 2006c). Following there are a lot of other regulations. They are
not directly connected with the practice of hoof treatment.
Additionally to the legislation the “Leitlinien zur Beurteilung von Pferdehaltungen unter
Tierschutzgesichtspunkten” of the BMELV exist since 1995. These guidelines do not have a regulating
character. They constitute just a foundation for advising. In 2009 they were renewed. Hoof care is mentioned
in section two. There the advice is given to practice the hoof treatment situation already with young foals.
Further the regular cleaning and control for keeping the hooves healthy is advised. The treatment of bare and
shod hooves should be done on a six to eight weeks schedule. The BMELV advises to use hoof protection, if
necessary. They point out that hoof treatment and protection can have an impact on the health and welfare of
horses.
2.4.3 Hoof Treatment and Animal Welfare
Animal welfare plays an important role in hoof treatment. Every practitioner is obliged to keep the animal
protection act. As mentioned the practitioner influences the welfare directly through treating the hooves. Due
to missing regulations the knowledge and skills of alternative hoof treatment practitioners are not assessed in
front of an independent duty, what endangers the welfare of horses. Hoof treatment practitioner have already
found guilty causing equines suffering. This is a crime according to the animal protection law. Further a high
number of welfare relevant unknown cases is assumed. Also the traditional farriery was detected to have
disadvantages influencing the health and welfare of animals.
25