Animal Protection Denmark
Animal Protection Denmark is the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Denmark. Our vision is to help animals in need, stop animal abuse and fight for a respectful and sustainable relationship between animals, people and nature.
Since the establishment in 1875, the organization has improved the lives and welfare of millions of animals, from farmed animals and animals used in the entertainment industries to companion animals, wildlife and research animals.
Animal Protection Denmark continues to form the debate about animal welfare and animals’ conditions, as we work to improve the lives of both farm animals, pets and wildlife. We influence decision-makers at national, EU and international levels, advocating for an agricultural production that takes the animals’ natural needs and behaviour into account. We inform and advise pet owners about responsible ownership and rescue abandoned pets through our shelters. Animal Protection Denmark also solves animal welfare cases and cares for wildlife at our rescue stations, so that they can return to the wild. On an annual basis Animal Protection Denmark handles more than 70,000 animal welfare/rescue cases.
Animal Protection Denmark also works on influencing consumer behaviour. We have developed a labelling scheme which certifies products from producers with a high level of animal welfare standards. Through a combination of the ‘Recommended by Animal Protection Denmark’-label, national campaigning and targeted political advocacy, we have succeeded in making significant improvements to the conditions for farmed animals. Among specific results are the banning of cage eggs, increased consumer awareness on animal welfare in poultry, pig and cattle productions, more humane methods of livestock slaughter, and improvement of the conditions in livestock transportations.
Internationally, Animal Protection Denmark APD supports a macaque project that aims to conserve and protect the long-tailed macaque through research and collaboration in several habitat countries in Asia. We also prioritise initiatives in non-Western countries that focus on farm and working animals, dogs and animals in the entertainment industries.