On September 7, 20 years ago, you established your foundation. What outweighs the rest? The joy of what you have achieved or the awareness that there is still a lot to do?
Susy Utzinger: It is clearly the awareness that there is still a lot to do. Basically, it is sad that animal welfare organizations are necessary at all and the longer we work in this field, the more we realize the urgent need for our work.
Where have you been able to make the most difference with your foundation?
SU: Animal welfare successes are difficult to measure in the area where they change people's awareness and/or actions and thus influence the welfare of animals. I think we have been able to achieve a great deal in this area over the last 20 years. In fact, in these 20 years, we have performed many tens of thousands of castrations, delivered several hundred tons of relief supplies, supported, reorganized and optimized many animal shelters, and conducted countless continuing education courses in the field of animal welfare.
What are the biggest obstacles in your work? Where have there been setbacks?
SU: There are always setbacks where financial or personal interests are involved. We experience this especially when it comes to political decisions (for example, whether hundreds of thousands of street dogs should be killed or rather neutered) or also in the area of puppy mills: In these horrible dog reproduction facilities, pedigree dogs are kept and bred under the worst conditions in order to sell them as cheaply as possible to the West. Also the fur industry lets animals suffer unspeakably, in order to produce cheap fur and make thereby much money.
As an animal welfare activist, you're not always welcomed with open arms. How do you go about it, for example, when you want to persuade a farmer to neuter his cats?
SU: That actually works the same way as with shy animals (that's not meant in a derogatory way at all): We first have to create a certain amount of trust, make it clear that we mean no harm and that the farmers will not suffer any disadvantage as a result of our action. But as long as there are still people who get young cats from the farm for twenty Swiss franks (because the vaccinated, healthy animals from the animal shelter cost more), there is no reason for many farmers to have their cats neutered. As a result, countless unwanted/surplus young cats are killed on Swiss farms every year. Just as countless are sick on the farms, on factory sites and in allotments.
There are animal rights activists who approach "enlightenment" differently. They enter stables and publish shocking pictures, block or sabotage slaughter transports. Do you support this approach?
SU: Our organization complies with the legal requirements, we do not carry out illegal actions. However, I do not condemn all of these actions: It has often been pictures from just such activities that eventually started a movement. It is sad when animals suffer from such actions instead of an improvement of the situation. Then it is not animal protection but rather poor ego actions.
Switzerland is considered an exemplary country when it comes to animal welfare. How do you see that? Where is there still a need for action?
SU: We have a great animal protection law, but that is no reason for us to rest on it. In our country, a lot of things happen in secret - and many of us assume that what we don't see doesn't happen. Especially in the livestock sector, it would be valuable if consumers were informed openly and honestly about what the circumstances are in our country. Only those who are fully informed can also make the right decisions. A simple example: Many milk consumers do not know that a cow has to give birth to a calf in order to give milk (just like any mammalian mother - it is the same for humans) - and these people also do not know how much the animals suffer from being separated from each other shortly after birth (the mother is needed for milk production). Also the suffering of the "worthless" young male animals of dairy cows is unknown to many.
You also say that many abuses in animal welfare are caused by a false animal love. What exactly do you mean by that, what do you encounter there?
SU: Such grievances always arise when there is more self-love than animal love. It is sometimes difficult for those affected to distinguish between the two. Two examples out of countless: Whoever feeds hungry animals but does not castrate them, promotes the reproduction of unwanted animals. Those who take in countless homeless animals, but cannot properly care for them, cause great animal suffering.
Through your commitment, you have already saved the lives of thousands of animals or helped distressed animals to a better life. Yet there are tens of thousands more who are neglected or mistreated. How do you deal with this fact?
SU: That's a sad fact and at the same time what drives me to keep going. Our work is probably never over (at least I probably won't live to see it) and we have to constantly adapt to new situations, new problems and new emergencies. It's a matter of attitude whether you want to give up or keep fighting steadily. I decided for myself a very long time ago that giving up is not an option.
And how do you put away all this suffering you encounter?
SU: The animal suffering that I see and also the suffering that I know exists is very painful for me (as it probably is for every human being). I try to turn this pain into strength. Strength to continue to do this work and to achieve even more improvements. Nevertheless, of course, tears also flow from me now and then.
The 20th anniversary comes at a difficult time. To what extent did the Corona pandemic affect your work?
SU: Corona required us to react quickly: Deployments had to be canceled, emergency plans had to be drawn up. Fortunately, we were able to step in very quickly with food deliveries for our Swiss and also for our foreign partner organizations.
The work is being done under difficult circumstances at the moment. Regardless of this, what are your next projects?
SU: In autumn, we already plan the missions for the next year. I sincerely hope that next year we will be able to travel again without any problems and we are already putting together our teams. Currently, we are conducting our training courses. Since we cannot hold our SUST Academy in the large lecture halls at the university this winter semester due to Corona, we will rely more on webinars in the future.
Animals, animal welfare have already played an important role in your whole life. Will that remain a lifelong task?
SU: I hope so with all my heart. This is my life's work (even if it takes me to my limits from time to time)
And what does Susy Utzinger do when she's not looking after the welfare of animals?
SU: I can no longer work 16-hour days without interruption. The older I get, the more I realize that I also have to take care of myself in between. That happens when I go hiking, jogging, or even during a cozy TV evening on the sofa (always with my dogs, of course)
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Image: Susy Utzinger - Ein Leben für den Tierschutz
Media Contact:
Susy Utzinger Stiftung für Tierschutz
Phone: 052 / 202 69 69
E-Mail: aufklaerung@susyutzinger.ch
www.susyutzinger.ch