FOUR PAWS celebrates its 20th Anniversary!

At this time 20 years ago, FOUR PAWS was founded in Austria. While today it is an influential animal welfare organization represented in eight countries, everything began in 1988 with night-time stake outs at fur farms, a campaign for free range eggs and the founding of an association. On March 4, high ranking officials and celebrities are paying tribute to the career of FOUR PAWS and the power of a vision: To get closer to a world without animal suffering every day.
 

1988-1993: The founding years

Nightly research activities at fur farms lead to the first official campaign of the new association. Along with the largest domestic distributor of free-range eggs, FOUR PAWS is encouraging public consciousness for the suffering of cage hens. Following a further campaign, Austrian Airlines and Lauda Air drop stop their cargo business with wild birds. Also the fur campaign begins to yield effects: Numerous fur farms are closed down. At this time FOUR PAWS starts cooperating with the Viennese zoo and launches wildlife projects aimed at creating awareness for the suffering of bears kept as tourist attractions.

1994-1999: The organization is taking shape

With the founding of the Germany bureau, FOUR PAWS is starting to work internationally. Numerous campaigns on all levels follow, aiming at ending grievances in the care of farm animals as well as wildlife – perceptible success is being achieved: Steeplechase horse races are cleared of its most cruel rules, postal services have to discontinue the handling of live animals and fur farms are banned in Austria. The protest against animal testing and genetic engineering leads to first alliances across Europe. A first castration project for stray animals is launched in Bucharest – and in Austria the first FOUR PAWS bear sanctuary is being built: Both are crucial steps: FOUR PAWS is now able to offer sustainable solutions to the problems it addresses.

2000-2002: Internationalization of Endeavors

FOUR PAWS Bulgaria, Romania and Switzerland are being founded, followed by FOUR PAWS Netherlands. The DANCING BEAR PARK Belitsa, a bear sanctuary, is built up in Bulgaria – seven years later the gory tradition of dancing bears will have been brought to an end with all remaining animals relocated to Belitsa. The Romanian stray animal project is being broadened and begins to show positive results. Numerous campaigns in all countries yield enduring legal improvements, also benefitting the political weight of the organization and thus allowing increasingly efficient work in the name of animal welfare: The German parliament is including animal welfare in the constitution, the living conditions of animals are increasing to improve throughout Europe.

In 2002, FOUR PAWS International opens as headquarters in Vienna. FOUR PAWS founder Heli Dungler is heading the coordination of the national dependencies as president.

2003-2008: World-wide projects and an approximation to a vision

Campaigns of increasing magnitude and impact follow – they are being launched according to necessity as either domestic or international campaigns. A large number of new projects are added: A mobile animal clinic in Kenya, further expansions in stray animal care, an orangutan survival center in Borneo, and many more. New fields of activity are also created, such as a disaster relief unit. FOUR PAWS Hungary and Great Britain, as well as the EU-office in Brussels complete the international network of the organization. In February 2008, the game cat sanctuary LIONSROCK is opened in South Africa: It is the biggest FOUR PAWS project to date. Lions with no future in Europe can find a new home here, which allows a life according to their needs.

On March 4, 2008, FOUR PAWS celebrates its first 20 years, in which very much as been achieved. But the line of vision remains forward: A world without animal suffering is the largest dimension possible – and a daily challenge.

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