Hamburg animal shelter faces challenges with restricted dog breeds

In Hamburg, Germany, certain dog breeds are legally classified as dangerous under the 2006 Hamburg Dog Act. This legislation prohibits residents from owning these specific breeds or transferring them to others, resulting in many dogs remaining in shelters for years.

At a shelter in the Hamm district, managed by the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association, dogs such as Pablo—a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier and Pitbull Terrier—face the possibility of living in the shelter indefinitely. Janet Bernhardt, head of the association, notes that these “list dogs” are unable to be adopted due to their legal status. Despite the ban, Bernhardt indicates that some individuals continue to acquire these breeds through illegal internet sales or direct transactions within the city.