Deutscher Tierschutzbund

What Deutscher Tierschutzbund does

Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V., founded in 1881 and headquartered in Bonn, is Germany's largest animal welfare umbrella organization and, by its own claim, the largest such federation in Europe. It functions as a Dachverband coordinating approximately 800 affiliated animal shelters and welfare associations (Tierschutzvereine) across Germany, while also operating direct service delivery through wholly-owned facilities: the Tierschutzzentrum Weidefeld (rescue center for exotic animals and wildlife, housing ~180 permanent animals), the Tierschutzzentrum Odessa in Ukraine (street animal project), the Sonnenhof dog shelter, and the Akademie für Tierschutz, an in-house scientific research and education unit staffed by veterinarians and biologists.

Its digital product surface extends this direct-service footprint: FINDEFIX, a free public pet registration database for identification and recovery; the 'Mein Haustier' mobile application for dog and cat owners; the Tierheim-Finder, a directory of member shelters; and the Animal Rescue Tycoon Fortnite map, a gamified awareness and fundraising vehicle. Beyond service delivery, the organization pursues political advocacy at the Bundestag, Federal Government and EU Parliament, has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Republic of Germany for inadequate shelter funding, and operates educational programs, seminars, its 'Du und das Tier' magazine, and a broad multi-channel awareness campaign including TV spots and social media.

The business model is donation-based philanthropy. There is no commercial product pricing. The organization is a gemeinnütziger Verein exempt from corporate and trade tax (tax number 205/5783/1179). Revenue streams comprise one-time and recurring donations, Fördermitgliedschaft sustaining memberships, Patenschaften (per-animal sponsorships at Weidefeld), Schutzgebühren adoption fees charged by member shelters, corporate partnerships and 'Spenden statt Geschenke' donation programs, bequests (Testamentspenden), court-ordered Geldauflagen payments, charity-shopping affiliate revenue, and gaming-driven donations. Customers/beneficiaries split between the general public (individual donors and pet owners), the ~800 member shelters and welfare associations, and corporate partners.

Name

Deutscher Tierschutzbund

Legal name

Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.

Website

https://tierschutzbund.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Deutscher Tierschutzbund is Germany's largest animal welfare umbrella organization, coordinating roughly 800 affiliated animal shelters and operating its own rescue centers, an in-house scientific academy, and digital pet-care tools including the FINDEFIX pet registry and Mein Haustier mobile app, funded primarily through donations, memberships, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC), Animal Cruelty Prevention, Investigation & Humane Law Enforcement (BPAGAIAG), Lost & Found, Reunification & Microchipping Programs (BPAGAIAL), Education & Community Outreach (Responsible Pet Ownership) (BPAGAIAK), Animal Shelters & Rescue Operations (AFAEALAB)

Keywords

• Animal welfare advocacy
• Animal shelter network
• Pet registration services
• Wildlife rescue center
• Animal protection nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Spenden (Donations): The organization raises funds through one-time and recurring monetary donations from the general public. Donation tiers target specific animal welfare causes such as stray cat protection (30 EUR/month for feeding stations, 70 EUR for kitten care, 150 EUR for cat neutering) and illegal puppy trade rescue (25 EUR/day shelter care, 45 EUR/3 weeks for puppies, 70 EUR for veterinary examination).
2. Fördermitgliedschaft (Sustaining Membership): Recurring membership fees from supporting members who provide ongoing financial support to the organization.
3. Patenschaften (Animal Sponsorships): Individuals can become sponsors of specific animals at the Weidefeld protection center, including dogs, parrots, peacocks, hedgehogs, and other animals.
4. Schutzgebühren (Adoption Fees): Animal shelters charge protection fees for adoptions to cover costs of food, care, medical treatment, and vaccinations.
5. Spenden statt Geschenke (Donations Instead of Gifts): Corporate and individual gifting program where donations are made in lieu of traditional gifts for occasions such as birthdays and weddings.
6. Testamentspenden (Bequests): Legacy giving program where supporters include the organization in their wills.
7. Unternehmenspartnerschaften (Corporate Partnerships): Corporate sponsorship and corporate donation programs targeting businesses that wish to support animal welfare.
8. Geldauflagen (Court-Ordered Payments): The organization receives court-ordered donations as part of legal settlements in animal welfare cases.
9. Charity-Shopping: A mechanism where supporters shop through affiliated platforms and a percentage of purchases is donated to the organization.
10. Gaming & Fortnite Map: The organization has created an Animal Rescue Tycoon Fortnite map where players engage with animal welfare themes, serving as a fundraising and awareness tool.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Deutscher Tierschutzbund is a nonprofit umbrella organization that advocates for animal welfare, supports a network of around 800 member animal shelters across Germany, and operates its own animal rescue centers (Tierschutzzentrum Weidefeld and Tierschutzzentrum Odessa). It runs educational programs through the Akademie für Tierschutz, provides pet identification via the FINDEFIX registry, offers a mobile companion app, and lobbies for stronger animal protection laws.

Product overview

Deutscher Tierschutzbund is Germany's largest animal welfare umbrella organization, operating as a federation of animal shelters and animal welfare associations. The organization offers a digital product portfolio including the Mein Haustier mobile app for pet owners, the FINDEFIX free pet registration database, and the Animal Rescue Tycoon gamification project. Core services include animal shelter support, wildlife rescue centers (Weidefeld and Odessa facilities), educational programs through the Akademie für Tierschutz, and advocacy campaigns. The organization also provides practical tools like a Tierheim-Finder directory, seminars for members, and publications including the Du und das Tier magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Du und das Tier: Magazine published by the Deutscher Tierschutzbund
• Mein Haustier
• FINDEFIX
• Feuerwehrfonds
• HelpCard
• Tierheime helfen
• RespektTaube

Products and services

• Mein Haustier App Free mobile application for dog and cat owners that serves as a companion tool for pet care information and management, developed and offered by the Deutscher Tierschutzbund.
• FINDEFIX Haustierregister Free pet registration database operated by the Deutscher Tierschutzbund that enables pet owners to register animals for identification and recovery purposes.
• Tierheim-Finder Online directory tool that enables users to locate member animal shelters and state animal welfare associations near their location across Germany.
• Animal Rescue Tycoon Fortnite Map Interactive Fortnite Tycoon map created by the organization where players create safe environments for animals through tasks, upgrades, and team play, serving as a fundraising and awareness initiative.
• Akademie für Tierschutz Research and education facility that serves as the ideas factory of the Deutscher Tierschutzbund, where scientists develop foundations for animal welfare work and deliver educational seminars.
• Tierschutzzentrum Weidefeld Own animal protection center located in Weidefeld that cares for rescued animals including dogs, birds, raccoons, and reptiles, including reptile, hedgehog, and bird stations with approximately 180 permanent animals.
• Tierschutzzentrum Odessa Street animal rescue project operated by the organization in Odessa, Ukraine, providing care for street animals in a foreign country.
• Magazin Du und das Tier Magazine publication by the Deutscher Tierschutzbund covering animal welfare topics for members and supporters.
• Reptilienstation Weidefeld Dedicated reptile rescue station within the Tierschutzzentrum Weidefeld that takes in reptiles surrendered or confiscated elsewhere, including Hermann's tortoises, ball pythons, and corn snakes, housing approximately 180 permanent reptiles.
• Fördermitgliedschaft (Sustaining Membership) Recurring membership program enabling supporters to provide ongoing financial backing through Fördermitglied (sustaining member) fees.
• Patenschaften (Animal Sponsorships) Sponsorship program that allows individuals to financially sponsor specific rescued animals at the Weidefeld protection center, including dogs, parrots, peacocks, hedgehogs, and other animals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 410 exotic animals rescued at Weidefeld from 2017 to 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Wildlife FederationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025Reolink, a global visual technology company, has partnered with organizations including the National Wildlife Federation and Deutscher Tierschutzbund to support wildlife conservation efforts. This partnership is part of Reolink's Earth Day initiative showcasing solar-powered security camera technology.
• ReolinkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025Reolink partnered with Deutscher Tierschutzbund as part of its wildlife conservation initiative, highlighting that the company deployed over 616,000 solar panels globally in 2025 and has partnered with the organization to support animal welfare and wildlife conservation.
• FressnapfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFressnapf collaborated with the Deutscher Tierschutzbund on a trend survey (May 2024) among affiliated animal shelters, with n=218 respondents. This partnership supports research into the animal shelter situation in Germany.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PETA Deutschland: German arm of PETA, focused on animal rights advocacy, campaigns, and corporate outreach. Comparable to Deutscher Tierschutzbund's advocacy, public campaign, and donor-engagement activities in the German market.
• Vier Pfoten / Four Paws: Austrian-headquartered international animal welfare organization with strong DACH presence operating shelters, sanctuaries, and advocacy campaigns. Directly comparable to Deutscher Tierschutzbund in mission, scale, and DACH regional footprint.
• RSPCA: UK's oldest and largest animal welfare charity, combining shelter operations, advocacy, and enforcement. Directly comparable as a national umbrella running rescue facilities and lobbying government on animal welfare law.
• TASSO e.V. Germany's largest pet registration and reunification database, comparable to Deutscher Tierschutzbund's FINDEFIX Haustierregister. Direct competitor in the German pet-owner digital services space.
• IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare): Global animal welfare and rescue NGO with operations across continents, including wildlife rescue and policy advocacy. Comparable international footprint and rescue center model to Deutscher Tierschutzbund's Weidefeld and Odessa facilities.
• Eurogroup for Animals: Brussels-based umbrella organization coordinating animal welfare NGOs across the EU on policy and legislation. Highly comparable as a federating/umbrella animal welfare body operating in the same European regulatory environment.
• ASPCA: American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a national US animal welfare umbrella combining shelters, advocacy, and rescue. Comparable scope of services and federating role in a national market.
• World Animal Protection: International animal welfare organization active in Europe with a focus on farm animals, wildlife, and disaster response for animals. Comparable mission and donor-funded, advocacy-led operating model.

Broad incumbents

• NABU (Naturschutzbund Deutschland): Germany's largest nature conservation association with over 900,000 members, sharing the membership-NGO model. Comparable as a federating conservation body competing for the same German environmentally-conscious donor base.
• WWF Deutschland: Germany's largest nature and wildlife conservation NGO, operating as a broad incumbent in adjacent conservation and fundraising space. Comparable in scale, transparency certifications, and German donor mindshare, though focused on wildlife and habitat rather than companion animals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tierschutzbund
• Instagraminstagram.com/tierschutzbund
• Xx.com/tierschutz_bund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deutscher Tierschutzbund