"In a Court Victory, the 'Picklefoots' Came Out Favorably"
The ongoing mediation between the Pechpfoten animal welfare association and the Bergische Diakonie over the dispute regarding the proposed Animal Protection Center in Aprath is still in progress. Both parties have expressed their willingness to continue dialogue in order to find a mutually acceptable solution.
The mediation aims to address concerns related to management, animal welfare standards, and facility operations. However, no official agreement or conclusion has been publicly announced so far.
The dispute arose when the Bergische Diakonie unexpectedly terminated the lease contract in June 2024, citing irreconcilable interests between an animal protection association and a diakonie as the reason. The Pechpfoten, in response, filed an objection against the termination and brought a civil lawsuit to court.
The Pechpfoten had already invested a significant sum in the renovation of the property they had taken over on a perpetual lease. The planned animal shelter will be an inclusive center with a park instead of cage rows and a natural pond, making it a unique addition to the accommodation of found animals in Wuppertal.
Judge Ute Laukamp has declared that the Diakonie's contract termination is legally ineffective due to timing and unclear reasons. Both parties have been urged by the judge to seek an out-of-court compromise.
An attempt at mediation in July has already failed. Lawyers from both sides will decide within two weeks whether to accept a mediator for another attempt. If mediation fails, the court is set to decide in favor of the animal shelter on October 2nd.
The new chairman of the board, Björn Neßler, has remained silent on the matter, but the SPD federal parliamentarian Helge Lindh has urged both parties to avoid a potential legal marathon through an agreement. Anke Süper, chairwoman of the Pechpfoten, remains skeptical about the success of mediation but is clear that the animal shelter will be established.
The establishment of this unique center in Germany would fill a long-standing gap in the accommodation of found animals in Wuppertal. For the latest updates on this developing story, we recommend checking recent local news sources or official statements from Pechpfoten and Bergische Diakonie.
Contemplating the possibility of a harmonious coexistence between the Pechpfoten animal welfare association and the Bergische Diakonie, the mediators strive to settle the disputed lease for a home-and-garden transformative lifestyle project that includes an all-inclusive animal shelter accommodating pets, designed with a natural park and pond. As the legal saga persists, both parties are poised to reach a decision regarding a new mediator within two weeks, with the hope of avoiding a prolonged court battle.
