Throughout the country, our volunteers help animals in need. These are usually companion animals, but we also help farm animals and wild animals. Homeless animals get a new chance at life through rehoming in new homes. Wild animals are released back into nature after rehabilitation.
Political and public influence
In addition to being the only nationwide animal welfare organization in Norway that rehomes animals, we work strategically with politicians, decision-makers, and the press to improve and strengthen animal welfare and legal protection. This is crucial for establishing more animal-friendly legislation and society. We also work with public information campaigns to increase knowledge, understanding, and respect for all animal species. Animals are sentient beings, and we humans are obligated to ensure they can live good animal lives.
The country’s first and only free veterinary clinic
Animal protection Norway also operates the country’s first and only free veterinary clinic. Lisaklinikken is a free veterinary service for animals owned by people who, for various reasons, cannot afford veterinary treatment. Even if you experience financial challenges, you do not need to be a poor animal owner.
Learn about the history of Animal Protection Norway
Founded 1859
“The Association Against Animal Cruelty” was established when the association held its first member meeting on October 17, 1859. Merchant David Graah had been to England and was inspired by animal welfare groups there. He had a leaflet about animal welfare translated into Norwegian. “Do not be harsh to the Animals,” which was distributed with several newspapers, became the starting point for Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge.
In the beginning, reports of animal abuse were central to the agenda, and work was done to establish stricter legal provisions for animal cruelty.
In 1897, the first edition of “Dyrenes ven” (The Animals’ Friend) was published. The magazine was published once a month and addressed a range of different animal welfare problems. Unfortunately, many of these issues are still active today.
A horse with a docked tail. A common sight in Norway in the 1800s, done for purely aesthetic reasons. Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge fought to end this practice. Docking a tail means cutting off the tailbone, which causes significant pain and risk of infection. Additionally, it deprives the horse of the ability to use its tail to swat away flies and other insects. The practice was gradually phased out and banned by law in 1935.
Photo: Gustav Borgen. Portrait of Engelhart Andresen
The 1900s
Animal welfare for domestic animals and horses was particularly high on the agenda at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. Tail docking of horses, transport of animals by railway and steamship, and horses used as transportation were all important work areas. The organization followed up on complaints and concern reports from the public about animal welfare, which led to many prosecutions.
The association collaborated early with veterinarians to help animal owners who could not afford veterinary treatment for their animals.
Horses were extremely important for urban infrastructure. Around 1900, there were reportedly as many as 9,000 horses in Kristiania alone. Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge was concerned about the welfare of horses and placed water troughs around the city so they had access to drinking water during their long and hard work sessions.
Photo: Horse trough. Unknown photographer, Oslo Museum
In 1910, attention was also focused on the fact that wild animals were losing more and more of their habitats, and the association pointed out that animal species were actually in danger of extinction because of this. In the 1920s, the debate raged about slaughter of animals without stunning and whether religion was an argument for allowing this.
The association worked to ensure that stunning should always be performed before bloodletting and wanted a ban on kosher slaughter. In 1929, a requirement for stunning all animals before slaughter was finally introduced.
Before, during, and after World War II, horse keeping, distemper in dogs, animals in the fur industry, and poultry keeping were on the agenda, to mention a few. During the war, there was naturally much attention around the use of horses in warfare.
Modern times
The association has always worked to educate children to be good and kind to animals. In the 1950s, children’s own membership magazine was published: “Fra Dyrenes verden” (From the Animal World).
In 1975, registration of companion animals came on the agenda. The organization advocated for a registration system that would make it easier to identify owners of animals that are neglected. Mandatory ID marking is still an important issue for us. Work with homeless animals costs the organization a great deal, and just as in 1975, we believe that ID marking will give our companion animals better legal protection.
Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge also contributed financially so that Falkens redningskorps could establish the country’s first animal ambulance.
Leading up to the 2000s, the spotlight was directed toward the fur industry, laboratory animals, circus animals and other animals used in entertainment, and whaling.
The organization today
The work of Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge has left its mark in several areas, and we can celebrate many victories for animal welfare. Although the work has often taken many decades, we have eventually reached our goals. The closure of the fur industry is one such case. We started this work in the early 1940s but did not reach our goal until the 2020s.
It is also worth noting that one cannot rest on one’s laurels. In 1929, we established a requirement for stunning all animals before slaughter. At that time, it was established that religious slaughter must also follow Norwegian regulations. This is being strongly challenged by religious communities in Europe today, and we can therefore never stop our educational work.
Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge has come a long way since its founding in 1859. Today we are a nationwide organization with local branches throughout the country. We help animals in need, stop abuse against animals, and work for a more animal-friendly society. Our goal is that all animals should be able to live good animal lives.
