ausgesetzte oder freilaufende Haustiere Unterbringung im Tierheim

Section 3 Number 3 Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG)
§§ 965 to 984 German Civil Code (BGB) in conjunction with § 90a German Civil Code (BGB)

If you have found a lost or abandoned pet in Hamburg, you must report this to the responsible authority.

• If you find a lost dog or other pet in Hamburg, you must inform the owner immediately.
• If you do not know who the animal belongs to, report the find to the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV), which is responsible for found animals.
• If no owner comes forward, you can take the animal in under certain conditions.
• If an animal is injured, contact the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV to clarify what to do next.
• If a loose animal endangers traffic or public safety, call the police immediately.
• These regulations do not apply to stray animals and wild animals.
• Abandoning an animal violates the Animal Welfare Act.

In order to respond quickly and appropriately, the responsible authorities need important information. Please always have the following information ready:

• Information about the animal
  • What type of animal is it?
  • Is the animal injured? If so, what injuries does the animal have?
• Information about the find
  • Date and Time
  • Location
  • Tied up, running free or accident
• Personal information
  • First and Last Name
  • Full Address
  • Telephone number

They found the pet in Hamburg.

• Report the find to the owner.
• If this is unknown, please contact the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV), which is the responsible office for found animals in Hamburg (“Lost and Found Office for Animals”).
• Provide information about the circumstances of the find that may be relevant to identifying the loser or the owner.
• As a general rule, you as the finder hand over the animal to the animal shelter after consulting the HTV by telephone.
• In exceptional cases, for example if the animals are injured, they can be picked up by HTV employees.

In principle, the animal must be handed over to the animal shelter by the finder after consulting the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV) by telephone. In exceptional cases, e.g. if the animal is injured, it will be picked up by HTV employees.
In case of emergencies, the animal shelter is open 24 hours a day, every day.

You must report the find immediately.
The owner has 6 months to come forward. Then you must return the animal to him. If the owner does not come forward within 6 months, you can keep the animal.

• As the finder, you can take the animal into your home after 7 days for cats and 5 days for other pets, with the consent of the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV) and after reimbursement of the costs.
• You must house, care for, feed and provide veterinary care for the animal in a species-appropriate manner.
• If the owner does not contact you within 6 months, you must return the animal.
• You can demand reimbursement of necessary expenses and a finder's fee from the owner.
• After 6 months, the animal belongs to you unless you have renounced it beforehand.

• If you find a stray cat, you are not allowed to keep it. A free-roaming animal has the opportunity to find food wherever it wants and can go wherever it wants. You do not have to report this find.

No

• If you find a lost dog or other pet in Hamburg, inform the owner immediately.
• Unknown owner: Report the find to the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV).
• No owner comes forward: under certain conditions the finder can take over the animal.
• Injured animal found in Hamburg: Contact the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association of 1841 eV (HTV) to clarify further steps.
• If an animal runs loose and endangers traffic or public safety, call the police immediately.
• These regulations do not apply to stray animals and wild animals
• Abandoning an animal violates the Animal Welfare Act.

Justice and Consumer Protection Authority