Bischdorf Animal Shelter – A Home for Animals in Need
Sometimes all it takes is a second chance to change a life completely.
Not every animal is lucky enough to grow up in a loving home or spend its entire life there. Some animals are abandoned, while others lose their homes because of illness, personal misfortune, or changes in their owners' circumstances. Still others are neglected or have to be rescued from poor living conditions.
For these animals, shelters are often their last refuge and, at the same time, their hope for a new beginning.
One such refuge is Bischdorf Animal Shelter in Upper Lusatia, operated by Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V. Here, animals in need find safety, care, and people who look after their well-being and want to give them a second chance.
This shelter holds a special place in my heart, because it is where my dog Pola came from. Today, she is an important part of my life.
Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V. – The Animal Welfare Association
The Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V. was founded back in 1991 and has been working to protect animal welfare in Upper Lusatia ever since.
As a member of the Deutscher Tierschutzbund e. V. (German Animal Welfare Federation) and Landestierschutzverband Sachsen e. V. (Saxony Animal Welfare Association), the organisation is part of a larger network of animal welfare groups working together to promote responsible treatment of animals.
At the heart of its work is the shelter in Bischdorf, a district of the municipality of Rosenbach, near Löbau.
In the summer of 2011, the association moved into the approximately 5,000-square-metre shelter site. Previously, the shelter had been located in Lawalde. The new location provided better opportunities to take in and care for animals and offer them accommodation suited to their needs.
Since then, the shelter has been expanded and modernised several times. Improvements have included upgrades to the dog kennels and the creation of additional accommodation. The facilities also include a treatment room for veterinary care.
But an animal shelter is about much more than buildings, kennels, and enclosures.
Its most important foundation is the people who look after the animals every day. According to the association, it has around 50 active members. Much of the work is carried out by volunteers.
The association also receives support through various funding programmes, public bodies, businesses, and private individuals.
Without this commitment, it would be almost impossible to manage such a wide range of responsibilities.
An Animal Shelter with Many Responsibilities
The work of Bischdorf Animal Shelter goes far beyond taking in and rehoming pets.
The association cares for found animals, takes in animals that their previous owners can no longer keep, and provides accommodation for animals placed in its care by veterinary or local regulatory authorities.
Its catchment area covers large parts of the region formerly known as the Löbau-Zittau district.
There are many different reasons why an animal might end up at the shelter.
Sometimes an owner dies and no one in the family can take care of the pet left behind. In other cases, illness, financial difficulties, a move, or changing family circumstances mean that an animal has to be surrendered.
Sadly, some animals have also been abandoned, neglected, or kept in unsuitable conditions.
The shelter's first priority is to provide all these animals with safety and appropriate care.
Every animal has different needs. A frightened dog may need a great deal of patience, while an injured cat may need immediate medical treatment. Other animals simply need peace and quiet, regular meals, and the chance to learn to trust people again.
That is why the staff and volunteers need not only the strength to carry out physically demanding work, but also empathy, experience, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Dogs, Cats, and Many Other Animals
Bischdorf Animal Shelter primarily looks after dogs and cats. But small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, other rodents, and birds also find temporary accommodation there.
The association is also involved in taking in and housing hoofed animals, including sheep and goats.
The figures published by the association show the scale of this work.
According to its own figures, the shelter takes in an average of around 134 dogs and 240 cats each year, along with numerous other small animals.
At any given time, it cares for an average of approximately 30 dogs, 60 cats, and up to 20 small animals.
These figures illustrate how much daily work goes into running an animal shelter.
Every animal needs to be fed and cared for. Accommodation has to be cleaned, animals must be monitored, and medical treatment provided when needed.
Dogs need exercise, stimulation, and human contact. Cats need places to retreat, opportunities for play, and an environment where they feel safe. Small animals also have their own specific needs when it comes to housing, nutrition, and care.
Animals that are sick, elderly, or difficult to rehome because of their past experiences present a particular challenge.
They often need especially intensive care and may remain at the shelter for a long time.
For these animals in particular, it is vital that the association has sufficient staff, space, and financial resources.
A Second Chance Through Adoption
One of the shelter's most important goals is to find new, permanent homes for as many of its residents as possible.
The aim is not simply to rehome an animal as quickly as possible. What matters far more is that the future owner and the animal are genuinely a good match.
Every dog, cat, and small animal has its own personality, history, and individual needs.
A young, energetic dog, for example, needs a different lifestyle from an older dog that prefers leisurely walks. A shy cat may need a quiet home with patient people, while a particularly active cat needs plenty of stimulation and variety.
That is why the shelter places great importance on getting to know and advising prospective adopters before an animal is rehomed.
The animals currently available for adoption are introduced on the association's website. Anyone interested can find out more before contacting the shelter.
During personal discussions and visits, the shelter and prospective adopters work together to determine whether their expectations and circumstances are suited to the animal's needs.
Sometimes several visits are helpful so that everyone can get to know one another and build trust.
Before an animal goes to its new home, an adoption agreement is signed and an adoption fee is charged.
This fee is not simply a purchase price. It helps cover some of the costs of caring for the animal and encourages people to make a considered decision about adopting a pet.
After all, taking in an animal means accepting responsibility – not just for a few weeks or months, but ideally for the rest of its life.
My Personal Connection to the Shelter: Pola
To me, Bischdorf Animal Shelter is much more than just a place that cares for animals without a home.
My dog Pola came from this shelter.
Thanks to her, the shelter's work has taken on a very personal meaning for me.
When I look at Pola today, I also think of the people who devote themselves to caring for animals, giving them protection, and finding suitable homes for them.
Without these people, many animals might never get the opportunity to start a new chapter in their lives.
Pola found a home with me. At the same time, I gained a loyal companion who enriches my life.
That, to me, is the wonderful thing about adopting an animal: it is not only the animal that gets another chance. The person who welcomes it into their home can gain so much as well.
I believe it is important not to regard shelter animals as second-class pets.
Often, they have simply been unlucky. It is not their fault if their previous owners could no longer care for them or no longer wanted to.
Many of them are simply waiting for someone to give them a chance.
Pola is a wonderful example of just how valuable that chance can be.
Why I Support the Shelter Every Month
Out of gratitude and because I believe in its work, I donate to the Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V. every month.
It is important to me not just to do something good once, but to support the shelter's work on an ongoing basis.
After all, running a shelter costs money every single day, regardless of how many donations come in.
The animals regularly need food, water, bedding, grooming supplies, and medication. On top of that are veterinary bills, electricity, heating, water, repairs, and maintenance of the buildings and outdoor areas.
Caring for the animals, transporting them when necessary, and operating the animal emergency service also involve expenses.
Caring for older animals or those with chronic illnesses can be particularly costly. Some need treatment for months or years before they can be adopted. Others may never find a new home at all.
According to the association, it is funded through membership fees, donations, public grants, and income from adoptions. It may also receive reimbursements for housing certain found animals and animals placed in its care by the authorities.
Reliable funding is therefore especially important.
Regular donations help the association plan its ongoing expenses more effectively and ensure that it can continue caring for the animals in its charge.
Of course, one donation alone cannot solve every problem.
But when many people each contribute a little, together they can make a real difference.
And for every animal helped as a result, that contribution can mean the world.
The Kleinradmeritz Project
Another of the animal welfare association's plans is to use a property in Kleinradmeritz as an additional site.
The property is located just a few kilometres from Bischdorf Animal Shelter.
Under the name 'Tierpension Kunterbunt – Außenstelle Kleinradmeritz' (Kunterbunt Animal Boarding – Kleinradmeritz Branch), the association describes its plans to create additional accommodation there and ease the pressure on the existing shelter.
The cat facilities in particular could benefit. One idea is to accommodate boarding cats in Kleinradmeritz in the future, freeing up more space for other animals in Bischdorf.
Longer-term accommodation for individual dogs that are difficult to rehome is also being considered.
The property also has green spaces and buildings that could, in principle, be suitable for keeping sheep, goats, and other animals.
An existing stable area could be converted into winter quarters.
However, substantial work would be required. According to the association, replacing the barn roof in particular presents a significant challenge.
The project shows that the animal welfare association is also working to expand its facilities in the long term and respond to changing needs.
At the same time, it demonstrates just how dependent such projects are on donations and other forms of support.
How You Can Support the Shelter
Not everyone is in a position to adopt an animal. Even so, there are many ways to support the work of Bischdorf Animal Shelter.
Adopt an animal
Anyone who can provide a suitable home and is prepared to take on long-term responsibility can give an animal from the shelter a loving home.
Make a donation
One-off or regular donations help cover the cost of caring for the animals and running the shelter. Even smaller amounts can make a difference.
Become a member of the animal welfare association
Membership provides a way to support the association's work over the long term. Those who wish can also take an active part in the association's activities.
Volunteer your time
The association relies on people who care about animals. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the shelter to find out what opportunities are available.
Donate supplies or offer practical help
Depending on its current needs, the shelter may also benefit from donations of food, equipment, or other materials. It is best to ask the shelter beforehand what is actually needed.
Spread the word about the shelter
Sometimes simply drawing attention to an animal looking for a new home is enough. Sharing adoption appeals or telling friends and acquaintances about the shelter can help animals find suitable owners sooner.
Every form of support matters, because animal welfare is a responsibility we can only fulfil together.
Further Information and Contact
Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V.
Bischdorf Animal Shelter
Bernstädter Straße 1
02708 Rosenbach, Bischdorf district
Saxony, Germany
Phone: +49 3585 2113703
Email: tsvloebau@aol.com
Official website:
https://www.tierschutzverein-loebau-zittau.de
Animal adoption:
https://www.tierschutzverein-loebau-zittau.de/tiervermittlung
Donations and membership:
https://www.tierschutzverein-loebau-zittau.de/mitglied-werden
Anyone who wants to learn more about the animals currently at the shelter, adopting a pet, or the various ways to help can find further information on the official website.
The information about the association, the shelter, and its projects is based on information published by the Tierschutzverein Löbau-Zittau e. V.