Nina Eichinger
Nina Eichinger is the daughter of the famous filmmaker Bernd Eichinger.
From 1988 until 2000, she went to the Munich International School in Starnberg and finished with the international baccalaureate.
In 2001, she completed an intensive acting class and camera training at the Hollywood Acting School. The same year, she was assigned to present the gastronomy awards Germany in Munich as co-moderator.
From 2002 to 2003, Miss Eichinger studied life sciences and communication science as minor field of study at the University of San Diego, California.
From 2003 to 2005, she finished her studies with the Bachelor of Arts at the Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland. She specified her studies in journalism and life sciences.
Interview
PHE: Miss Eichinger, you are a public figure. Due to your job, you are always on the way. Do you still have time for private interests?
Nina Eichinger: Yes, of course, I think you have to take this time off. For me in person it is very important, because there you can refresh and catch new energy.
PHE: You are well known for your love to animals. You are proud dog-owner, what do you especially like in the relationship between human and dog?
And how do you commit yourself in animal protection?
Nina Eichinger: Without my female dog I cannot and will not imagine life anymore. I think it doesn’t matter if it is a dog or cat or guinea pig, in every case it is great to have a personal relationship to an animal.
But the advantage of a dog is that you can go through “thick and thin”.
This is because you can nearly take your dog everywhere with you. You can do sports together, go to vacation and so on.
And this is how this intensive relation establishes.
For me it is important to grapple with topics like animal protection.
No animal deserves it to suffer and we, the “more powerful “ or “mighty” ones, have the responsibility to treat them as they deserve it.
I am a member of two organizations, but I would of course appreciate to commit myself more than that.
PHE: A huge problem, which every organization dedicated to foreign animal protection has to fight with, is that many people affirm that German animal shelters are full enough. So why do we rehome animals from abroad. What do you think about that statement?
Nina Eichinger: This is a very tricky situation.
We in Germany of course have more than enough dogs, which need a new home.
And because of this it is a bit unfair to raise the competition by bringing dogs from abroad.
On the other hand, I know that the poor souls from abroad are not able to help it.
And you cannot just look away, because the agony in your own country is also large.
PHE: During our work in animal protection, we again and again get to know brave private persons, who keep on fighting and being helpful, despite political or existential obstacles.
Do you know people like this from your own experience?
Nina Eichinger: I know a very kind couple, who cocker up wild animals from time to time.
They adopt for example baby squirrels, which have to be fed every two hours. Or they adopt marten babies because of which they are in trouble with the local hunters. They sacrifice themselves again and again.
That is just awesome.
PHE: In many countries, animal protection is accompanied by the misunderstanding of the responsible politicians. And so the opinions about killing camps are usually very different.
A lot of municipalities in the European countries try to solve the problem with the flood of ownerless animals by killing them after a short waiting time.
If you could decide, what would you do?
Nina Eichinger: This cannot be a solution at all. But when you see the terrible and tight enclosures, you know that there cannot live 10 more dogs. I actually think that the problem has to be solved at its seeds.
That’s why I think that castration and sterilization programs, which are done by animal rights activists in those countries, are very important. Then hopefully the problem rises not in this way.
PHE: If you today would have the opportunity to state a slogan for animal protection, which one would that be?
Nina Eichinger: Nobody said it would be easy, but it will be worth it!
PHE:You were so kind to answer all these questions. Did you something of the Pfotenhilfe Ungarn or Pfotenhilfe Europa before?
Nina Eichinger: Honestly no. In the meantime, there are a lot of organizations. But I will start right know to read everything about the two :)
Interview by Britta Berkenfeld