Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V.

What Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. does

The Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. is one of Germany's oldest animal welfare organizations, headquartered in Hamburg and operating a major animal shelter in the city's Hamm district. Founded in 1841, the organization provides a comprehensive suite of animal welfare services including animal adoption (Tiervermittlung) for dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and hoof/clawed animals, 24/7 emergency animal rescue (Tierrettungsdienst) via hotline 040 222277, animal cruelty investigation through its dedicated Tierschutzberatung unit, and educational programs for children and youth (Kinder- und Jugendtierschutz). As of July 2026, the shelter housed approximately 898 animals (133 dogs, 186 cats, 423 small mammals and others, and 156 wild animals), and the organization had implemented admission restrictions for cats, naked wild animals, ornamental birds, aquarium animals, and poultry due to exhausted capacity.

The organization operates as a private nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein / e.V.) under German law and is affiliated with the Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. as its Hamburg state-level Landesverband member. It runs an in-house veterinary practice supporting shelter operations and is funded through a diversified revenue model comprising voluntary donations, annual memberships with ich&du magazine benefits, animal sponsorships (Patenschaften), adoption fees, merchandise sales through a dedicated online shop, bequests (Testament für Tiere), and affiliate income from the Gooding online shopping referral program. Annual operating costs total approximately €8 million.

The technology stack is standard and non-proprietary, consisting of a Joomla-based public website with Google Analytics, Google Maps integration, and social media plugin integrations across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The organization employs 13 staff members and is governed by a board led by Chairwoman Janet Bernhardt, with Andreas Petersen serving as Treasurer (Schatzmeister) and Susanne David as Shelter Manager (Tierheimleiterin). It holds a §11 Erlaubnis permit from Bezirksamt Hamburg-Mitte required for shelter operations and coordinates animal cruelty enforcement with Hamburg's seven district veterinary offices.

Name

Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V.

Legal name

Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V.

Website

https://hamburger-tierschutzverein.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1841

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. is a Hamburg-based nonprofit animal welfare organization operating one of Germany's oldest shelters. It provides animal adoption, 24/7 emergency rescue, cruelty investigation, and education services, funded through donations, memberships, and sponsorships with €8M annual costs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

Keywords

• Animal shelter services
• Animal rescue services
• Animal adoption services
• Animal welfare consultation
• Nonprofit veterinary care

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization operates as a private nonprofit association (eV) that relies primarily on financial donations from animal-loving individuals to cover its operational costs. Annual operating costs total approximately 8 million euros. Donation channels include online donations, direct bank transfers, and Gooding online shopping referral contributions.
2. Membership Fees: The organization generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions. Members receive the 'ich&du' Tierschutzmagazin (animal protection magazine) as a benefit.
3. Animal Adoption Fees: Revenue is generated through the adoption of shelter animals to screened adoptive families. Animals available for adoption include dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and hoof/clawed animals.
4. Shop and Flea Market Sales: The organization operates an online merchandise shop (hamburger-tierschutzverein-shop.de) selling HTV-branded products. Physical flea market and second-hand sales are also conducted.
5. Sponsorships (Patenschaften): Individuals can become sponsors (Paten) of shelter animals, providing regular financial support for specific animals in care.
6. Legacies and Testaments: The organization accepts animal testaments (Testament für Tiere), receiving bequests from deceased supporters who designate the association as a beneficiary.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. operates a nonprofit animal shelter (Tierheim) in Hamburg that houses and rehomes surrendered, stray and confiscated animals, runs a 24/7 Tierrettungsdienst (animal rescue service), and provides a Tierschutzberatung (animal welfare consultation and investigation unit) on behalf of the Hamburg veterinary authority. It also offers animal adoption matchmaking, animal relinquishment services, an animal welfare school for children and youth, and is funded through memberships, donations, animal sponsorships and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V. operates as an animal shelter and nonprofit organization providing animal welfare services. The organization's primary offerings include: Tiervermittlung (animal adoption services) for various animal categories (dogs, cats, small animals, birds, reptiles); Tierrettungsdienst (animal rescue) with 24/7 emergency response; Tierschutzberatung (animal protection counseling) for investigating animal welfare violations; and financial support mechanisms through Geldspenden (donations), Mitgliedschaft (membership), and Patenschaften (animal sponsorships). The shelter facility at Neue Süderstraße houses approximately 898 animals and operates with annual costs of approximately eight million euros. Additional services include emergency services, educational programs for children and youth, and the Tierschutzmagazin ich&du publication. The organization is affiliated with the Deutscher Tierschutzbund and holds a §11 permit from the Hamburg-Mitte district office.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tiervermittlung (Animal Adoption Services) Structured matchmaking service that places surrendered, stray and confiscated dogs, cats and small animals from the Tierheim with vetted individual adopters in the Hamburg region. Includes behavioral and medical screening, adoption counseling and post-adoption support.
• Tierrettungsdienst Hamburg (Animal Rescue Service) Round-the-clock emergency animal rescue and retrieval service for injured, stray, confiscated and wildlife animals in the Hamburg metropolitan area, staffed and equipped with dedicated rescue vehicles and dispatched via a public emergency hotline.
• Tierschutzberatung (Animal Welfare Consultation & Investigation Unit) Animal welfare consultation, complaint intake and investigative service operated on behalf of the Hamburg veterinary authority (Verbraucherschutzamt / Veterinäramt), addressing suspected animal welfare violations and, in notable cases, illegal puppy trafficking.
• Tierheim (Animal Shelter) at Süderstraße, Hamburg-Hamm Physical animal shelter facility housing surrendered, stray and confiscated dogs, cats and small animals, providing veterinary care, behavioral assessment, and onsite intake/surrender services in Hamburg-Hamm.
• Notfall-Dienste (Emergency Animal Services) Public emergency response services for animal incidents (stray, injured, wildlife conflicts) coordinated through the 24/7 hotline and rescue vehicles, providing triage, retrieval and onward care.
• Kinder- und Jugendtierschutz (Children and Youth Animal Welfare School) Structured educational program covering responsible pet ownership, wildlife protection and animal welfare ethics, delivered to school classes, youth groups and families both on-site at the Tierheim and through external outreach.
• Mitgliedschaft (Membership) Recurring annual membership subscription program that provides members voting rights at association meetings, the Tierheim-Magazin newsletter, invitations to events, and an ongoing channel to financially support the association.
• Tier-Patenschaften (Animal Sponsorships) Named animal sponsorship program under which supporters provide recurring financial contributions tied to a specific Tierheim animal, supporting its care and stay at the shelter until adoption.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hamburger Tierschutzverein is a member of the Deutscher Tierschutzbund (German Animal Protection Federation), serving as the Hamburg state-level association (Landesverband Hamburg). The relationship involves shared advocacy, coordinated rescue operations (e.g., LPT laboratory animal rescue), and alignment on national animal welfare campaigns. The HTV participates in the federation's initiatives including the nationwide puppy trade campaign 'Süße Ware, schneller Tod: Welpenhandel stoppen!'.
• Hamburger Stadttauben e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for pigeon protection in Hamburg. The two organizations work together on projects to protect Hamburg's city pigeons and advocate for pigeon welfare. The HTV has supported demonstrations and campaigns organized by Hamburger Stadttauben e.V. and jointly advocated for pigeon feeding policies.
• Rettet das Huhn e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation partner for the rescue of laying hens from slaughter. The HTV has supported multiple 'hen rescue' events organized by Rettet das Huhn, providing its shelter facilities as a distribution point for rescued hens to adoptive families. The partnership has facilitated the rescue of hundreds of hens (810 in one notable operation).
• Stefan Klippstein (Animal Rescuer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWell-known animal rescuer who collaborates with the HTV's Tierschutzberatung on undercover operations and investigations into illegal puppy trafficking. Together they have conducted joint rescue operations and public demonstrations.
• SOKO TierschutzminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal welfare investigative organization that works with the HTV on protests, demonstrations, and campaigns against animal testing laboratories and illegal animal trade. The HTV participated in the SOKO-initiated demonstration against LPT in Kiel with approximately 50 members.
• Hamburg Veterinary Offices (Bezirksämter)coreOthersThe HTV's Tierschutzberatung works closely with Hamburg's seven district veterinary offices (Bezirksämter) for Hamburg-Mitte, Altona, Eimsbüttel, Hamburg-Nord, Wandsbek, Bergedorf, and Harburg. These offices have the authority to enforce animal welfare laws and confiscate animals. The HTV also holds a §11 permit issued by Bezirksamt Hamburg-Mitte. In emergencies, citizens are directed to contact police.
• Animal Rights Watch (ARIWA) HamburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal Rights Watch Hamburg collaborates with the HTV on demonstrations, including joint protests for the closure of all slaughterhouses. The organizations share investigative findings and participate in public rallies together.
• Gooding.deminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline shopping referral partner. Gooding.de is a platform that donates a percentage of online purchases to selected charitable organizations. The HTV receives contributions when supporters shop through the Gooding platform using the HTV referral link.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TASSO e.V. Germany's largest pet registration and lost-pet database organization. Adjacent but highly comparable in serving Hamburg pet owners with emergency/lost-pet services — a service line HTV also delivers through its 24/7 hotline and Notfall portal.
• PETA Deutschland e.V. Germany branch of PETA, focused on animal rights advocacy, investigations, and public education. Comparable on the advocacy, public-campaign, and investigation dimensions (e.g., puppy trafficking, animal testing) of HTV's Tierschutzberatung work.
• SOKO Tierschutz e.V. Animal welfare investigative organization conducting undercover operations against animal testing and illegal trade. HTV has joined SOKO-led demonstrations (e.g., against LPT in Kiel), and the two are comparable on investigation and advocacy functions.
• Bund gegen Missbrauch der Tiere e.V. German animal welfare NGO focused on legal enforcement, animal cruelty investigations, and legislative advocacy. Directly comparable to HTV's Tierschutzberatung investigation and reporting function.
• Tierschutzverein München: Munich-based private animal welfare association operating a municipal-tier animal shelter with adoption, rescue, and veterinary services. Highly comparable to HTV as a city-level private Tierschutzverein with the same structure (eingetragener Verein) and service mix.
• Tierschutzverein für Berlin und Umgebung Corporation e.V. Berlin's largest private animal shelter and welfare organization with adoption, rescue, and surrender services. Direct comparable operating a similar metropolitan shelter model under the Deutscher Tierschutzbund federation structure.
• VIER PFOTEN (Four Paws International): International animal welfare organization with a strong German presence focused on shelter animals, stray animal programs, and advocacy. Comparable for its blend of shelter operations and policy advocacy, particularly on stray animal population management which HTV also addresses.
• Rettet das Huhn e.V. Specialist German nonprofit rescuing laying hens from slaughter and rehoming them to private families. Active operational partner of HTV (810 hens rehomed through HTV's shelter) and directly comparable on the rescue-and-rehome model.

Regional players

• Hamburger Stadttauben e.V. Hamburg-based specialist nonprofit for pigeon welfare. HTV's declared cooperation partner for pigeon protection campaigns. Comparable as a city-level niche animal welfare nonprofit operating in the same geography.

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V. The national parent federation of which the HTV is the Hamburg state association (Landesverband Hamburg). Directly comparable as the largest German animal welfare umbrella organization with shared advocacy, coordinated rescue operations, and aligned campaigns on issues like puppy trafficking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HamburgerTierschutzverein
• Facebookfacebook.com/HamburgerTierschutzverein
• Instagraminstagram.com/hamburgertierschutzverein
• TikToktiktok.com/@hamburgertierschutz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hamburger-tierschutzverein-von-1841-e-v-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hamburger Tierschutzverein von 1841 e.V.