In the heart of the Canton of Bern, between the quiet shores of Lake Thun, lies Switzerland’s first pet safe. A small wooden shelter, located next to the Hünegg Castle car park, which offers a safe haven for rabbits, guinea pigs and other small rodents that are no longer wanted.
Designed by the Tierklappe foundation, the structure is equipped with a video camera, automatic ventilation and a solar panel. Anyone who can no longer take care of their animal can leave it here anonymously and protected, without exposing it to the dangers of abandonment. The objective is not to facilitate renunciation, but to offer a humane alternative to those who, for reasons of force majeure, cannot find another solution.
How the “cat flap” for animals works
The operation of the cassette is simple but studied down to the smallest detail. After opening the door, the animal – preferably in a carrier – is placed inside the safety flap, where a camera automatically reports the handover to the Tierklappe team.
Within 45 minutes, staff retrieve the animal, which is then seen by a veterinarian and placed in a temporary home for rehabilitation. After about two months, if no one claims him, the little guest is offered for responsible adoption. The association guarantees preventive checks and ensures that the new home respects the needs and dignity of the animal.
The aim is to extend the project to other species
The pilot project currently only concerns rodents and small mammals, but the foundation hopes to extend it to other species in the future. As mentioned, president Gelsomino Reinhard underlined that this initiative aims to be a gesture of prevention and awareness, not an incentive to abandonment.
Supported by the Hünegg Castle Foundation, the box is located in a discreet and protected place, where several animals cared for by volunteers already live. In an era in which abandonment remains a silent plague, this “cat flap of the heart” represents a concrete step towards a more ethical and conscious way of taking care of animals. A small counter, in short, but a great gesture of humanity and responsibility.
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