Dachshund dogs, popularly known as sausages, could be banned from Germany if a bill is approved, says the German Dog Association, the VDH. The regulation was filed in February and is part of a reform of animal protection legislation.
According to the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the bill aims to combat cruel practices in animal husbandry. This implies “reproductive characteristics that inflict ‘pain, suffering and harm’ on future generations.”
In a note published on the association’s official website, they claimed that the project lists several characteristics of diseases that could lead to a ban on breeding healthy dogs. “Unfortunately, many of the characteristics mentioned are vague and ambiguous. This leaves a lot of room for incorrect or exaggerated interpretations.”
The VDH also explained that the new legislation could cause “great legal uncertainty” among authorities, breeders, veterinarians and dog owners. Therefore, they announced an online petition against the law, which already has more than 12 thousand signatures.
“The characteristics ‘anomalies of the skeletal system’ listed in the law could be interpreted as a prohibition on the reproduction of any significant deviation in size (…). This term can, for example, be attributed to the length of the legs of dachshunds and other small dog breeds.”
According to the association, other dog breeds, such as beagle, terrier and schnauzer, are also threatened by the German bill. The information was released by the British newspaper The Telegraph.
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