Dog bite in Schwalmstadt: PETA is now demanding dog license!

Dog bite in Schwalmstadt: PETA is now demanding dog license!

Last Sunday, July 6, 2025, a shocking incident occurred in Schwalmstadt-Wiera: a ten-month-old Malinois that escaped from an adjacent property, bit two children aged 8 and 10 and their 42-year-old father. The family was comfortable on the sidewalk when the dog attack took place. The father intervened, but could not prevent him from suffering bite wounds, including injuries to hands and legs as well as abrasions. Fortunately, the injured went to a nearby hospital independently, but the fright sits deep. The police have meanwhile started investigations against the dog owner, as nh24.de reported.

In response to this incident, the animal welfare organization PETA urges PETA to introduce a mandatory dog license in Hesse. Peta emphasizes that the problem is often not with the dogs themselves, but with the owners who have difficulty interpreting the behavior and body language of their animals. A PETA survey from August 2023 shows that 68 percent of the adults living in Germany support a dog license. This would be a step in the right direction to prevent such incidents in the future, such as https://www.hna.de/lokales/schwalmstadt/schwalmstadt-ort68394/nach-hundebiss-in-schwalmstadt-peta-mindet-93829924.html) reported.

A dog handler would not only include a theoretical course for future owners before they buy a dog, but also a joint practical seminar in a dog school. The aim of this concept is to ensure that all dog owners are familiar with their four -legged friends and interpret their signals correctly. According to the [Fressnapf, special preparatory courses are not mandatory, but the specialist shop literature and online test offers interested people an overview of the theoretical test.

A practical part could prove to be challenging, since in many cases several dogs have to be trained at the same time. Dogs should be trained in different groups and distractions in order to create a safe basis in everyday life. The average preparation time for dog-human teams usually includes three to four months, whereby numerous dog schools and associations offer special courses to gain the necessary knowledge.

The question that is now arising is how Hesse's policy reacts to this requirement. After the incident in Wiera, the voices for more responsibility for dog owners have become louder. PETA's latest campaign could get the stone rolling and ensure more security in the coexistence of humans and dogs.