Michael Aufhauser

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Michael Aufhauser (born April 25, 1952 in Augsburg ) is a German animal rights activist and founder of the Aiderbichl estate , a sanctuary for animals in Austria .

Career

Aufhauser comes from a wealthy family. He tried his hand at acting at a young age and after finishing school he attended drama school in Gauting . For a while he was around Prince Johannes von Thurn und Taxis and was considered his "foster son". Then Aufhauser switched to the US tourism industry . In 1997, at the age of 45, he married the 82-year-old millionaire Irene Florence Albert from Wiesbaden (residence: Gstaad ) - the wedding took place in Abtenau - and thus became financially independent. His wife died five years later in the villa near Salzburg that Aufhauser had inherited at the time of her death. Aufhauser still lives in the property today, and his managing director Dieter Ehrengruber is also officially registered there. Michael Aufhauser worked in the USA for many years in the tourism industry. In 2000 he started building Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf.

Animal welfare

After Aufhauser observed the killing of street dogs in 1991, he began to actively campaign for animal welfare. In 2000, when he founded Gut Aiderbichl in Austria, he set up a so-called sanctuary. In 2003 he financed two outdoor dog areas in Seekirchen am Wallersee and Salzburg . Later a cat house was added in Bavaria , in 2006 Gut Aiderbichl in Bavaria (Eichberg / Deggendorf ) was opened. Wild animals have also been admitted to Gut Aiderbichl since 2008. Aufhauser describes his relationship to animals and his view of the role that the relationship to animals should play in society as follows:

"In understanding animals we learn to deal with the weaker. After all, they are basically defenseless. They don't shoot back, they don't lock us up, they don't let us slaughter. They are not indifferent or cynical, they simply follow The condition of a society can be seen by dealing with animals. Whether it still has values ​​such as tolerance, responsibility and charity. In addition, properly understood animal protection is always also human protection. What happens to them today can happen to us tomorrow. There it's about us all and all of life. "

criticism

Despite his commitment to Gut Aiderbichl , Aufhauser is accused from the animal rights scene of failing to live up to his claim as an animal rights activist , of making the entire movement ineffective and ultimately harming it and the animals . The allegations stem from the fact that he is often perceived in the media as an animal rights activist.

In particular, the Austrian animal rights activist Helmut F. Kaplan practiced on several statements by Aufhauser ( "The fact that the animals from Gut Aiderbichl ultimately do not come to the slaughterhouse should not call into question the meat production." , "The animals at Gut Aiderbichl [.. .] [...] have a kind of diplomatic role for their conspecifics. " , " Farmers are animal rights activists of the sensible kind. " , " Animal welfare also means showing the butcher's profession the appropriate respect. " , " Free trade means yes Austrian products can also be exported. I am thinking, for example, of high-quality eggs [...] or boiled beef as an export branded [...] item with a recommendation from Gut Aiderbichl, which people in Germany now also have is known. Utopia? " ) sharp criticism.

These aim to "give the meat-eaters back that good conscience that they had before the animal rights movement came into being," said Kaplan. In addition, Aufhauser would propagate that protecting animals and killing animals is not a contradiction, as long as you respect their dignity. However, there is nothing wrong with Gut Aiderbichl's function as a sanctuary itself.

Honor

Aufhauser is an honorary ambassador of the Jane Goodall Institute Austria .

Publications

  • Michael Aufhauser: Animal paradise Gut Aiderbichl . Paradise for rescued animals. teNeues, Kempen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8327-9276-3 (texts in German and English).
  • Michael Aufhauser: My most beautiful horse stories . A happy ending for rescued horses. teNeues, Kempen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8327-9277-0 (texts in German and English).
  • Michael Aufhauser: My most beautiful cat stories . A happy ending for rescued cats. teNeues, Kempen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8327-9279-4 (texts in German and English).
  • Michael Aufhauser: My most beautiful dog stories . A happy ending for rescued dogs. teNeues, Kempen 2008, ISBN 978-3-8327-9278-7 (texts in German and English).
  • Michael Aufhauser: Save the animals! With the collaboration of Susanne Stockmann. Herbig, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-7766-2511-0 .
  • Michael Aufhauser: Rethinking with a heart . Langen / Müller, Munich 2006, ISBN 978-3-7844-3065-2 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cf. Stefan Melichar, Rainer Fleckl : "Gut Aiderbichl: Manager was presented. Proceedings on suspicion of serious fraud in donations and inheritances", in: News , October 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ Moving to the wildlife paradise. Gut Aiderbichl Foundation, August 27, 2009, accessed on July 10, 2013 .
  3. ↑ Interview with Michael Aufhauser about Gut Aiderbichl, animal welfare and the communication of values. Retrieved April 25, 2012 .
  4. ↑ a b c Does "Tierdiplomat" Aufhauser harm the animals? Retrieved July 10, 2013 .
  5. ↑ Material problems and problem people. Retrieved July 10, 2013 .
  6. ↑ Honorary Ambassadors of the Jane Goodall Institute Austria. Retrieved February 20, 2012 .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Aufhauser, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German animal rights activist
DATE OF BIRTH April 25, 1952
PLACE OF BIRTH augsburg