HORAK. · GERMAN & EUROPEAN ANIMAL LAW
Animal law in Germany.
Clear advice for businesses and owners.
Animal law, feed regulation and veterinary matters in Germany and the European Union. We help businesses, veterinary practices, organisations and animal owners turn complex legal questions into a practical course of action.
Explore our 16 areas of advice ↓
English-speaking legal advice · Hannover head office · Offices across Germany
Advice organised around you
Businesses
Legal advice for feed companies, breeders, farms, equine businesses, shelters, associations and animal health suppliers. We connect commercial contracts with the regulatory requirements that affect your day-to-day operations.
Veterinary Medicine
Advice for veterinary practices and clinics, manufacturers, distributors and animal owners. Treatment disputes, practice operations, medicines and technical products each require a distinct legal assessment.
Animal Owners
Practical advice on purchasing an animal, liability, veterinary treatment, insurance and official restrictions. Whether the animal is a dog, cat, horse or another species, the facts and your legal role determine the next step.
FIND THE RIGHT STARTING POINT
What do you need to resolve?
A product launch, an inspection, a transaction or a dispute: choose the issue closest to yours. Each guide explains the legal framework, practical steps and documents that help us assess your position.
01
Feed & pet food law
From a new pet food range to an official inspection: resolve classification, composition, labelling and distribution questions before they disrupt your business.
02
Veterinary medicines
Legal support for veterinary product development, authorisation, manufacturing, distribution, advertising and post-market obligations in Germany and the EU.
03
Veterinary devices & diagnostics
Classify equipment, diagnostic tests, software and animal health technology correctly before making performance or compliance claims.
04
Veterinary practices & clinics
Advice for veterinarians, practice owners and investors on professional requirements, transactions, employment and the daily operation of a veterinary business.
05
Livestock, farming & aquaculture
Practical legal support for livestock businesses, farms and aquaculture operators facing regulatory requirements, disease controls and commercial disputes.
06
Transport, imports & exports
Plan animal movements, cross-border sales and rescue transfers around the applicable welfare, health, documentation and customs requirements.
07
Animal welfare & regulatory inspections
Advice on welfare duties, inspection findings, corrective orders, animal removal and restrictions on keeping animals.
08
Breeders, shelters & animal businesses
Licensing, contracts and governance for breeders, shelters, rescue organisations, boarding businesses, trainers and animal-related associations.
09
Equine businesses & horse law
Contracts and dispute resolution for horse sales, breeding, livery yards, riding schools, trainers and equestrian organisations.
10
Brands, innovation & advertising
Protect animal health technology and brands, review product claims and respond to competitor challenges.
11
Wildlife, zoos & animal research
Specialist regulatory issues involving protected species, zoological facilities, research animals and the interfaces with hunting and conservation law.
12
Disputes, injunctions & defence
Choose the right route for a commercial claim, regulatory order, urgent application, fine or criminal allegation involving animals.
13
Animal sales & purchase disputes
Draft workable animal sale agreements and assess claims concerning health, agreed characteristics, non-payment or a failed transaction.
14
Animal liability & insurance
Assess injury and property-damage claims involving animals, including accidents, business risks and disputed insurance cover.
15
Veterinary negligence & treatment disputes
Evaluate allegations of veterinary negligence, diagnostic errors and deficient pre-purchase examinations using the clinical record and independent expertise.
16
Dog orders, keeping & neighbour disputes
Practical advice on dangerous-dog classifications, leash and muzzle orders, keeping restrictions and disputes involving homes and neighbours.
German law. European regulation. Practical representation.
Animal-related matters rarely fit one legal category. Feed and veterinary products bring regulatory duties and commercial contracts together. Animal welfare cases can involve administrative orders, civil claims and criminal allegations at the same time. We identify those connections at the outset.
01
Define the issue
Send the documents, relevant parties and any deadline. We check conflicts and identify the applicable jurisdiction.
02
Agree the approach
We explain options, evidence, likely procedural steps and fees, then agree the scope of the engagement.
03
Take the next step
This may be a contract review, authority response, negotiated solution or court application, with priorities agreed with you.
The people behind the advice
Our attorneys and patent attorneys work across disputes, regulation, commercial matters and intellectual property. Your matter is allocated according to its legal and technical requirements.
Latest insights: animal law in practice in 2026
Practical briefings on contracts, veterinary matters and regulatory proceedings. The new series is allocated to January–October and was added retrospectively on 13 November 2026. Each briefing explains four typical scenarios.
Practice series 10/2026
Urgent animal-law proceedings in 2026: deadlines and evidence
Urgent proceedings depend on the objective, deadline and evidence. The briefing identifies records needed for the initial assessment of an application.
Practice series 09/2026
Veterinary medicines in 2026: distribution and product responsibility
Clarify regulatory roles in veterinary medicines distribution. The briefing covers product information, feedback and responsibilities when adding sales channels.
Practice series 08/2026
Welfare inspections in 2026: findings, remedies and legal protection
Respond to inspection findings in a structured way. Coordinate remedies, records and legal review while addressing animal care and deadlines.
Practice series 07/2026
Animal insurance in 2026: coverage before and after a loss
Match insurance to actual animal use. The briefing explains how to examine coverage denials separately from liability.
Case law: what the decisions mean in practice
Gross veterinary treatment errors
BGH, 10.05.2016 – VI ZR 247/15
A qualifying gross treatment error can reverse the burden of proving causation. This is not automatic liability for every poor outcome. The assessment of the error and the particular injury remain central.
Read the BGH decision (German)Dogs and cats in tenancy agreements
BGH, 20.03.2013 – VIII ZR 168/12
A blanket dog-and-cat prohibition in standard tenancy terms can be invalid. Whether keeping a particular animal is permitted still depends on the circumstances. The judgment does not establish an unrestricted right to keep animals.
Read the BGH decision (German)These judgments date from 2013 and 2016. They are discussed for their practical relevance, not presented as new 2026 decisions.
Working with clients across Germany
Hannover is our head office. We also have offices in Berlin, Bielefeld, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart. Advice can be arranged in English, including for cross-border matters with a German or EU-law connection.
Discuss your matter
Send a short description, the parties involved and any deadline. We check conflicts and agree the scope and fees before starting work. For urgent matters, telephone our office as well.
Send an enquiry
Tell us briefly what happened, who is involved and whether a deadline is approaching. All fields are optional. Please provide an email address or telephone number if you would like a reply. We agree the scope and fees before starting work; sending this form does not itself establish an engagement.