Set the dogs free – No more animal experiments at the University of Düsseldorf!

Despite apparently ended animal experiments, dogs are still kept at the animal facility at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU). We demand that they are set free!

Go to petition

The HHU is the stronghold of animal experiments in Germany. Our local group in Düsseldorf has been campaigning for years to explain to students more about animal-free methods in the fields of teaching and research. Our goal is the entire abolition of animal experiments in Düsseldorf.

Not in the interest of the students and its name giver

By failing to set an example of modern, animal-free research, while actually serving as a stronghold for animal experiments in Germany, the HHU acts against the values of its name giver. The HHU is named after the German poet and author Heinrich Heine. According to its website, the university feels particularly committed to Heinrich Heine’s values of "tolerance, cosmopolitanism, equality and freedom". But this is not compatible with adhering to the outdated system of animal experimentation.

It thereby denies the students a future-oriented education.

Campaign success: two dogs set free

For many years, animal experiments in the field of dentistry were carried out on dogs at the HHU. Since 2018, no more experiments have allegedly been carried out on dogs. At that time, 24 dogs were still living in the HHU facilities. Despite apparently completed experiments, the university continued to keep 4 dogs until summer 2024. What happened to the other 20 animals? The university is keeping quiet about this. In August 2024, the HHU gave in to our demands and announced that it would place two dogs - a female beagle and a female foxhound - in private hands. The university does not want to re-home the last two dogs ‘for reasons of age’. At the same time, the university announced a re-homing project  for animals that are not 'needed' any longer together with the Düsseldorf Animal Welfare Association. The (announced) release of the two dogs is a great success but by no means the end of our campaign.

Our demands

In the interest of human beings and animals alike, in the interest of all students and patients, and in the interest of all the animals being used in research and teaching, we present the university with the following demands:

1. All dogs that are currently being kept in the research facilities of the HHU are to be handed over to suitable private persons
2. No rabbits or other animals shall be used in place of the dogs for dental research
3. A stop to all animal experiments in research and teaching at the HHU, i.e. a full change to non-animal testing methods, including a chair for animal-free methods.

How to help

Short videos 

We have summarised the facts about the dogs at Düsseldorf University in a number of short videos (in German).

Take a look >>