Goldener Fressnapf on world animal ...

On 4 October, Fressnapf in Austria honoured dedicated animal welfare activists with the ‘Tierisch engagiert’ (Animal Commitment) awards. Associations, initiatives, animal shelters and even small private animal welfare organisations – the winning projects received the Golden Fressnapf. Committed associations, animal sanctuaries and even small private initiatives from Austria were honoured – the winning projects received the Golden Fressnapf and awards worth a total of 45,000 euros. In Burgenland, Anita Reicher's special commitment to the fight against animal suffering was honoured with the award.

As part of the ‘Tierisch Engagiert’ awards, Fressnapf Austria has named its ‘Pet of the Year’ for the second time in 2025 – a very special furry friend with a touching story. This year's winner is Pixy from Vorarlberg. The dog was born in Romania and had a difficult start in life: together with her mother and siblings, she was taken to a Romanian shelter by a dog catcher shortly after her birth, where she contracted parvovirus. At four months old, she finally found a home in Vorarlberg. With a lot of training and patience, the dog mastered her training as a therapy dog – and has since regularly accompanied her owner Corina Kühne, a teacher, in her everyday school life.

The Austrian Bat Station was awarded the ‘Tierisch engagiert’ award for Vienna for its commitment to the protection, care and reintroduction of native bat species. In Upper Austria, the animal welfare association Angsthund was honoured for its unique project dedicated to rescuing and rearing traumatised dogs and supporting their future owners.

The Igelfreunde Austria association was honoured with the ‘Tierisch engagiert’ award for Tyrol for its commitment to the care, rescue and release of injured and orphaned hedgehogs. For Lower Austria, the ‘Bambii Rettung – Verein zur Linderung von Tierleid’ association was honoured, a project for the rescue of animals using drones and thermal imaging cameras. The Tiertafel Kärnten Katzplatz SoMa is honoured for its outstanding commitment to supporting people and animals in need.

For Vorarlberg, Karl Heinz Hanny was honoured with the ‘Tierisch engagiert’ award for his decades of work with ‘Unsere Vorarlberger Tierrettung’ (Our Vorarlberg Animal Rescue). ‘Wildtierhilfe TiniBlue’ is honoured for Salzburg for caring for injured and orphaned wild animals.

‘The relationship between humans and animals is invaluable and deserves our support. With this award, we not only want to recognise the work of animal welfare activists, but also encourage young, committed people to continue their efforts to protect animals,’ emphasised Hermann Aigner, managing director of Fressnapf Switzerland and Austria. Since 2014, Fressnapf has donated over two mio euros in Austria, supporting numerous organisations and associations.