For almost two decades, FOUR PAWS has consistently and successfully focused on one goal: to help animals that have been abused due to economic, scientific or other reasons - to their rights.

Our vision is a world without animal suffering. We view ourselves as the advocate and champion of those who have no voice of their own, namely animals. The common foundation for this is the respect for all forms of life and the deep conviction that every organism has a right to be treated with consideration and to live a life with dignity that complies with its needs. Animals are sentient creatures and therefore subjectively perceive the world; we as humans bear responsibility for them.

For us, the goals of animal protection, human safety and nature conservation are inseparably linked. We therefore feel a solidarity with all those who use peaceful and legal means to achieve a respectful coexistence with one another and with the environment. We as an animal protection organisation seek to contribute our share to achieving this goal.

• being a volunteer for Vier Pfoten and member of the regional group in Hamburg;
• support of Vier Pfoten campaigns with the main focus so far being fur and wild animals in circuses;
• signing petitions regarding animal welfare issues and encouraging others to add their signature - mainly against animal testing, anti hunting, and bear rescue in Asia;
• sending protest letters;
• financial donations;
• spreading the word (including distribution of leaflets);
• circulating vegetarian recipes
• starting own petitions. For example: to End Bear Farming in Korea (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/end-bear-bile-farming-in-korea)
• supporter and German Ambassador of Ursa Freedom Project (http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com)

"Thank you so much for giving me the role of World Animal Day Ambassador in Germany. I am very proud to be an Ambassador and will do my very best to make World Animal Day a success here in Germany." Rebecca Stache, World Animal Day Ambassador, Germany.

Image right: Rebecca distributing leaflets with fake fur tails into post boxes in the neighbourhood. This Vier Pfoten campaign helped to raise public awareness of the cruelty issues related to fur farming and to encourage people to stop buying fur.