Freital animal shelter manager honored with Saxon animal welfare award

The Freital animal shelter manager Regina Barthel-Marr has been awarded the Saxon Animal Welfare Prize. Social Affairs Minister Katja Köpping (SPD) presented her with the "Johann-Georg-Palitzsch-Medal for outstanding achievements in the field of animal welfare" in Freital.

She has dedicated herself to animal welfare in the district and is constantly committed to animal welfare, said Köpping according to a statement from the Ministry of Social Affairs. "Regina Barthel-Marr knows how to give the animals a lobby and also how to find supra-regional supporters for animal welfare work in Saxon Switzerland."

The managing director of an architecture and engineering firm and her team have turned the animal shelter in Freital into a gem and saved the animal shelter in Reichstädt/Dippoldiswalde. "You are a jack-of-all-trades and also an important voice in animal welfare," said Köpping, addressing Barthel-Marr, who has managed the animal shelter in Freital since 2016 and is chairwoman of the local animal welfare association. According to the ministry, Barthel-Marr is also active in the fight against the illegal puppy trade.

The medal is named after the Dresden polymath Johann Georg Palitzsch (1723-1788) and has been awarded since 2001. The award is endowed with 4,000 euros.