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Prize of Heartlessness” 2024 goes to the largest rabbit farm in Germany, Dr. Zimmermann GbR in Abtsgmünd
The company profits massively from factory farming. Every year ANINOVA (formerly the German Animal Welfare Office) awards a negative prize. This prize is intended to “recognize” companies or people who profit from animal cruelty, do not stop it or directly or indirectly mistreat or exploit animals. In the past, for example, the fashion companies Breuninger and Bogner received the award because of the sale of real fur. Both companies are now fur-free. But the operator of the infamous pig high-rise and the slaughter giants Tönnies and Westfleisch have also already been “honored” with the Negative Prize. “Now the largest rabbit farm in Germany is being hit, and for good reason,” says Peifer, playing with it...
Prize of Heartlessness” 2024 goes to the largest rabbit farm in Germany, Dr. Zimmermann GbR in Abtsgmünd
the company profits massively from factory farming
Every year ANINOVA (formerly the German Animal Welfare Office) awards a negative prize. This prize is intended to “recognize” companies or people who profit from animal cruelty, do not stop it or directly or indirectly mistreat or exploit animals. In the past, for example, the fashion companies Breuninger and Bogner received the award because of the sale of real fur. Both companies are now fur-free. But the operator of the infamous pig high-rise and the slaughter giants Tönnies and Westfleisch have also already been “honored” with the Negative Prize.
“Now the largest rabbit farm in Germany is being hit and for good reason,” says Peifer, alluding to the hidden recordings that ANINOVA (then under the old club name German Animal Welfare Office) published in the summer of 2022. The company in Abtsgmünd was observed for months and animal husbandry was documented with a hidden camera. The pictures show thousands of rabbits that have to live crammed together in narrow cages. The grid floors press into the sensitive paws of the animals. This is definitely not species-appropriate. But the video images document even more. For example, there are recordings that show (then) employees of the company hitting rabbits on the ground. Other rabbits are beaten with an iron rod and left lying for a long period of time without checking their reflexes or taking any further action. Some of the animals still show clear signs of consciousness. This forbidden type of killing was apparently intended to kill the animals in an emergency. “All these animals must have suffered hellish torture,” said Peifer.
ANINOVA (then under the old club name German Animal Welfare Office) brought the pictures to the public in 2022 and filed a criminal complaint with the public prosecutor's office in Ellwangen. The responsible veterinary office had also filed a criminal complaint. The public prosecutor sees it as proven that two (former) employees of Dr. Zimmermann GbR killed several rabbits in violation of animal welfare. This year it became known that two penalty orders were issued by the district court in Aalen in the mid-four-digit range. One penalty order is already legally binding, and legal action has been taken against the second penalty order. The proceedings against the owner of the business have been discontinued.
ANINOVA sees the condemnation as a small success, but thousands of rabbits are still kept in cramped cages. This is also a reason why the symbolic “Prize of Heartlessness” will be awarded in 2024 to the largest rabbit farm in Germany. Another is that the company benefits massively from factory farming, because although keeping them in cages is economically very profitable, the animals suffer extremely from this form of keeping. “Most so-called farm animals are no longer kept in cages in Germany and that’s a good thing,” says Peifer. The rabbits are kept in Abtsgmünd for breeding and animal testing. “I can only recommend the vegan lifestyle to anyone who no longer wants to support such animal cruelty,” concludes Peifer.
Further information here (https://aninova.org/news/preis-der-herzlosen-2024-kaninchenzucht-zimmermann/).
ANINOVA's focus is on the areas of factory farming and fur. The animal rights organization uses uncovering and undercover research to show how so-called farm animals are kept in Germany. Further information at http://www.aninova.org
contact
ANINOVA e.V.
Jan Peifer
On Autobahn 23
53757 Saint Augustin
02241-261549-2
02241-261549-1
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