Association Against Animal Factories

The Verein gegen Tierfabriken (VGT), rendered in English as the Association Against Animal Factories, is an Austrian animal-protection and animal-rights organisation founded in 1992. Its founding was inspired by a same-named association established in Switzerland in 1989, although the two organisations no longer have any connection. The VGT is based in Vienna, at Meidlinger Hauptstraße 63/6 in the 1120 district, and describes itself with the slogan "Wir geben Tieren eine Stimme" ("We give animals a voice"). The association is a registered non-profit body (ZVR-Zahl 837615029) that finances itself exclusively through donations and holds the Austrian Donation Seal of Quality (Österreichisches Spendengütesiegel). It reports roughly 18,000 members and maintains representations in Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, St. Pölten, Wiener Neustadt and Vienna, with active groups in Burgenland, Carinthia and Vorarlberg. Its chairperson (Obmann) is the animal ethicist Martin Balluch, and its managing director (Geschäftsführerin) is Christine Braun. The VGT is a member of the umbrella body pro-tier.at (Verband österreichischer Tierschutzorganisationen), serves as Austria's representative in the European Network for Farm Animal Protection (formerly the European Coalition for Farm Animals), and cooperates on projects with the international animal-protection organisation PETA. It publishes a magazine, Tierschutz konsequent, twice a year with a print run of 25,000 copies. In practice the VGT promotes plant-based lifestyles such as veganism and vegetarianism and campaigns against hunting, animal testing, fur, and the transport of live animals. It organises most of the animal-rights demonstrations held in Austria and works to strengthen Austrian animal-welfare legislation; a VGT delegate served as an expert in drafting animal-protection provisions in the Austrian National Council. The organisation claims a significant role in the bans on fur farms, wild-animal circuses, battery cages for laying hens and cage housing of rabbits, as well as in achieving a nationally uniform animal-welfare law and in establishing animal-welfare ombudsman offices with party status for the animals concerned. Since 2002 it has held animal-rights congresses in Austria, and in intervening years it runs free Animal Liberation Weekends at changing locations in Europe. Through its "Tierschutz im Unterricht" project it offers cross-border teaching sessions in schools. The VGT's public profile has also been shaped by legal conflict. In May 2008, during a nationwide raid, ten activists from various animal-protection and animal-rights organisations — including three VGT members — were arrested on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation under the name Animal Liberation Front. Thirteen animal-rights activists stood trial from March 2010 at the Regional Court of Wiener Neustadt and were acquitted of all charges on 2 May 2011 for lack of evidence. Complaints were later filed against the prosecutor, the head of the special commission and three other officials; a damages claim was dismissed, and appeals were rejected by the Vienna Higher Regional Court in 2017, by the Supreme Court of Justice in 2018, and by the European Court of Human Rights in February 2019. Today the VGT continues to run high-profile campaigns, including its current focus on abolishing the Vollspaltenboden (fully slatted concrete floors) used in pig farming, its anti-fur demonstrations in Vienna, and undercover investigations into animal cruelty on farms. It solicits donations, sponsorship of animals (Tierschutzpatenschaft) and volunteer activism across all Austrian federal states.

The Verein gegen Tierfabriken (VGT) in Austria was founded in 1992. Its creation was inspired by a same-named association established in Switzerland in 1989, but today there is no longer any connection between the two organisations. From its base in Vienna, the VGT grew into one of Austria's most visible animal-protection and animal-rights groups, with representations in Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, St. Pölten, Wiener Neustadt and Vienna, and active groups in Burgenland, Carinthia and Vorarlberg. It reports around 18,000 members and finances itself exclusively through donations, holding the Austrian Donation Seal of Quality. Over the decades the VGT has combined grassroots activism with legislative advocacy. It organises most of the animal-rights-motivated demonstrations in Austria and has worked to improve animal-welfare laws; a VGT delegate served as an expert in drafting animal-protection provisions in the Austrian National Council. The organisation claims a major role in the bans on fur farms, wild-animal circuses, battery cages for laying hens and cage housing of rabbits, in achieving a nationally uniform animal-welfare law, and in establishing animal-welfare ombudsman offices with party status for the affected animals. Its published milestones include the 2013 decision to enshrine animal protection as a state objective in the Austrian federal constitution, the 2015 prevention of an increase in stocking density for fattening poultry, the 2019 decisions to end pyrogen testing on rabbits and to end enclosure hunting (Gatterjagd) and the release of bred animals for hunting (effective 2029), and a 2024 decision (effective 1 July 2026) that camels, llamas, alpacas and buffalo may no longer be kept or perform in circuses. Since 2002 the VGT has held animal-rights congresses in Austria for international exchange on animal-rights topics. In years without a congress it runs free Animal Liberation Weekends (ALWs) at changing locations in Europe — usually two-day workshops offering contacts, practical help and theoretical background for people entering animal-rights activism. Through its "Tierschutz im Unterricht" project it offers cross-border teaching sessions in schools. The VGT's history also includes a major legal confrontation. On 21 May 2008, during a nationwide raid, ten activists from various animal-protection and animal-rights organisations — among them three VGT members — were arrested on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation under the pseudonym Animal Liberation Front. The measures in the course of the Wiener Neustadt animal-protection trial drew protests and criticism in many media outlets, from human-rights organisations and from politicians. From 2 March 2010, thirteen animal-rights activists had to answer charges at the Regional Court of Wiener Neustadt, including participation in a criminal organisation. On 2 May 2011 they were acquitted of all charges in all counts for lack of evidence. Complaints were filed with the corruption prosecutor's office against the prosecutor, the head of the special commission and three other officials, among other things for abuse of office, false testimony, forgery of documents and deprivation of liberty. A related damages claim was dismissed. On 16 September 2014 Martin Balluch published excerpts from his appeal against that decision, financed by solidarity donations. After appeals against the ruling were also rejected by the Vienna Higher Regional Court in 2017 and by the Supreme Court of Justice in 2018, a corresponding complaint was rejected by the European Court of Human Rights in February 2019. In the present day the VGT continues to run prominent campaigns. Its current focus is the abolition of the Vollspaltenboden (fully slatted concrete floors) in pig farming, arguing that 70% of pigs in Austria must vegetate on hard concrete slatted floors over their own excrement until slaughter. It also stages anti-fur demonstrations in Vienna and publishes undercover investigations, such as a recent exposé of animal cruelty in the district of St. Pölten-Land involving manure lakes, extremely emaciated animals, high mortality and violence despite a ban on keeping animals. The association solicits donations, animal sponsorships and volunteer activism across all Austrian federal states, and publishes the magazine Tierschutz konsequent twice a year with a print run of 25,000 copies.

• 2024

  Decision (effective 1 July 2026) that camels, llamas, alpacas and buffalo may no longer be kept or perform in circuses.

• 2019

  Decisions to end pyrogen testing on rabbits and to end enclosure hunting and the release of bred animals for hunting (effective 2029).

• 2015

  VGT campaign prevents an increase in stocking density for fattening poultry.

• 2013

  Animal protection is enshrined as a state objective in the Austrian federal constitution.

• 2011

  On 2 May, all defendants are acquitted of all charges for lack of evidence.

• 2010

  From 2 March, thirteen animal-rights activists stand trial at the Regional Court of Wiener Neustadt.

• 2008

  On 21 May, ten activists including three VGT members are arrested in a nationwide raid on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation under the name Animal Liberation Front.

• 2002

  VGT begins holding animal-rights congresses in Austria.

• 1992

  Verein gegen Tierfabriken founded in Austria, inspired by the 1989 Swiss association of the same name.

Grassroots, donation-funded Austrian animal-rights and animal-welfare association known for uncompromising campaigns, undercover investigations and legislative advocacy.

• Tierschutz konsequent

  VGT magazine published twice a year with a print run of 25,000 copies.

• Tierschutzpatenschaft

  Animal-sponsorship programme through which supporters fund the association's work.

• Tierschutz im Unterricht

  Cross-border teaching sessions offered in schools.

• Animal Liberation Weekends (ALWs)

  Free two-day workshops held at changing European locations in years without an animal-rights congress.

• Wiener Neustadt animal-protection trial

Read more

• Abolish Vollspaltenboden
• Anti-fur demonstration in Vienna
• Campaign against increased stocking density for fattening poultry

1. 1VEREIN GEGEN TIERFABRIKEN - Wir geben Tieren eine Stimme. - vgtvgt.at
2. 2Kontakt - vgtvgt.at
3. 3Erfolge des Verein Gegen Tierfabriken - vgtvgt.at
4. 4Transparenz - vgtvgt.at
5. 5Verein gegen Tierfabriken (Österreich) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Wikidata Q2514836wikidata.org