About VGT

We at Association against Animal Factories (VGT) are dedicated to reducing animal exploitation and abuse and stopping these practices in the long run. The VGT is an independent organisation, unaffiliated to any political party and entirely financed by public donations.

The work of the VGT would not be possible without the time, creativity and commitment that volunteer activists invest into furthering the animal cause. Indeed, the organisation sees its role as empowering and supporting members of civil society alarmed by the treatment of animals, to exercise their democratic rights for bringing about change.

There is no ethically acceptable reason to exclude non-human animals from having the same basic rights afforded to humans. The ability to suffer is the defining criterion for membership in a community guaranteeing basic rights. These basic rights are to be protected regardless of whether their violation is culturally, historically or religiously motivated.

The VGT follows the vision of a fair, ecological and ethically responsible coexistence with all beings in the world. We employ modern and effective instruments of political activism in combination with awareness-raising to realise our goals. The VGT adheres to a strict policy of non-violence.

What we do in more detail

Our achievements

After many years of direct campaigning, VGT has achieved an impressive set of laws protecting animals that sets new standards worldwide. Here are some important milestones on the way to realising animal rights. VGT brought about these changes or supported their realisation in cooperation with other groups.

Ongoing

A ban on slatted flooring for pigs

ETCA – European Citizens’ Initiative: No more caged farming in the EU!

Calf transport – public scandal on live animal transport in the milk industry

CO2 stunning of pigs

An end to the horse-drawn carriage trade

Piglet Castration – Campaign for banning castration without anaesthetic

2016

Management of wild animals to replace hunting in Vienna's Lainzer Tiergarten woodland and park

Improvements to the law governing the horse and carriage trade

2015 came into effect in 2016

Improvements to the law concerning animal cruelty (§ 222 StGB)

Ban on fairs for the sale of wild animals

2015

Austrian Ombudsman Board declares tethering of cattle unlawful

Successful challenge to the attempt to increase stocking density of poultry

2013

Austrian constitution amended to include animal welfare

2012 came into effect in 2015

Implementation of criteria catalogue used to evaluate applications to carry out animal experiments

2011 taking effect in 2033

Ban on the use of sow stalls

2008 – 2014

The Austrian Animal Protection Trial: Following many successful campaigns for better animal protection, VGT experienced shocking levels of state repression. The most infuential activists in Austria where detained and accused of being members of a criminal organisation. In the end the verdict was not guilty on any count but the fight against this attempt to silence animal welfare work in Austria lasted many years.

2008

Legal challenge to appoint a legal guardian for Chimp Matthias Pan aka Hiasl, meaning he would be recognised by the court as having personhood according to Austrian law.

2007 came into effect in 2012

Ban on keeping rabbits used for meat in cages

2006 came into effect in 2007

All supermarkets and discount stores in Austria stop selling battery eggs

2006

Ban on the use of great apes in experiments

2005

Nation wide animal protection law instead of 9 different provincial laws established.

Full cage ban for laying hens (including enriched versions) achieved.

Animal ombudsman to take up cases on behalf of animal victims.

New law implemented on pheasant breeding

2004 agreed on, but enacted only after our renewed campaign in 2013

Austrian parliamentary parties support a unanimous motion to ask the government to include the protection of life and well-being of animals alongside human rights into the constitution

2004 came into effect in 2009

Ban on battery farms for laying hens

2004 both came into effect in 2005

Enactment of the Austrian Federal Animal Protection act

Animal ombudsman appointed in each Austrian province

2002 came into effect in 2005

Ban on the use of wild animals in circuses

1998

Closure of all fur farms in Austria. Ban on fur farms in 6 provinces. (In the remaining 3 provinces stronger laws and regulations made selling fur unprofitable. This resulted in there being no fur farms in Austria after 1998. A federal ban came into force as part of the 2005 animal protection act.)

Ban on ram fighting in Zillertal in Tyrol

1995

Establishment of inspection body for the treatment of farmed animals

1994

Implementation of ultra violet light used for egg inspection. This ended the scandal of selling cheaply produced eggs from caged hens as eggs from hens kept in improved systems.