[Ethics as a scientific basis for animal protection - on the advancement and amendment of the Codex Veterinarius].

Seven years ago, the veterinary association for animal protection (Tieraerztliche Vereinigung fuer Tierschutz e.V., TVT) in Germany first published an orientation guide on the ethics of animal protection aimed at the entire veterinary profession: the "Codex Veterinarius - ethical guiding principles on veterinary action for the good and the protection of animals".

Activities in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) to transform school education with the objective of increasing student awareness of animal welfare issues.

While harmful live-animal procedures in primary and secondary schools are illegal in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and classroom dissections are either illegal or at least unpopular, there is a relatively new trend in German-speaking schools to handle animal welfare issues by means of voluntary animal welfare lessons. This began in the 1980s, and there is now a growing number of (at this point, more than ten) organisations in German-speaking countries offering such classes and/or well-prepared teaching aids. Apart from outlining the legal situation for animal use in education and training, the different educational concepts for animal welfare as a subject in schools are presented.