Verband Österreichischer Tierschutzorganisationen

The Association of Austrian Animal Welfare Organizations — pro-tier — is an alliance of animal shelters, animal welfare organizations, and animal rights groups throughout Austria, with the goal of giving animal welfare a strong voice in Austria. The exchange of experiences and joint initiatives strengthen our commitment to animal welfare. A unified approach to public authorities and legislators helps to ensure that animal welfare receives greater attention.

As a representative of the animal welfare movement, the pro-tier association is a member of the Animal Welfare Council of the Federal Ministry of Health, which is responsible for animal welfare (pursuant to Section 42 of the Federal Animal Welfare Act). The Council's role is to contribute to quality assurance and the ongoing improvement of animal welfare laws in an advisory capacity. Currently, Brigid Weinzinger and Elisabeth Sablik represent the pro-tier association on the Animal Welfare Council.

`` . ... . . . . Furthermore, the association sends five representatives to the Federal Animal Experimentation Commission in accordance with Section 35 of the 2012 Animal Experimentation Act.

The association was founded on June 3, 1978, as the Central Association of Animal Welfare Societies of Austria (ZTÖ). In 2004, it was renamed the Association of Austrian Animal Welfare Societies (VÖT). In 2008, as part of a reform of its statutes, the name was slightly modified again to allow membership not only for associations but also for other legal entities. It is now called "Association of Austrian Animal Welfare Organizations — pro-tier.at".

Membership in the pro-tier association is open to all animal welfare initiatives that are seriously committed to animal welfare, actively advocate for it, and wish to strengthen common concerns through the association's activities. The association is financed exclusively by membership fees, and all its officials work on a voluntary basis.