Princess Maja von Hohenzollern, moderator, entrepreneur and author, is dedicated to several relief projects all over the world for years now.
 
The animal loving Maja could not stand still, when she got to know of the grievances in Brasov by the ETN (European Union for Animals and Nature).

She became ambassador for the animals and together with other animal rights activists, she fights for the ending of the dog massacre in Brasov.

For years now, Princess Maja von Hohenzollern lives together with animals from animal protection programs (currently nine dogs, four cats and two rabbits). She actively supports the work of animal rights activists.

PHE: You actively campaign for the animal protection in Romania. Why did you choose especially this country? How did you hear of the grievances there?

Maja von Hohenzollern: Due to the fact that since 2004 about 10 million dogs were brutally killed.
Until my visit in the city Brasov, 300 dogs per killed every day by either bashing the dogs heads with a spade or inject the neurotoxin T61.
. I finally recognized how the situation is, because the ETN e. V. and by Cristina Lapis (chairwoman of the animal shelter “Millions of friends”), who both desperately fight at the face.

PHE: How did especially react the government to your campaign?

Maja von Hohenzollern: The mayor Georg Sciparu, who was responsible for the cruel killings cowardly sneaked out of having a meeting with me.
He instead sent his replacement Adrian Gabor. He obviously didn’t like to have a conversation about this topic, but we could finally achieve the following covenants:

-- Brasov will not bring dogs from surrounding municipalities to their killing camp
-- Brasov will stop the killing of dogs
-- Brasov accept an immediate castration program with the ETN
-- Brasov will guarantee free entry for all animal rights activists to the killing camps

This commitment has already been signed by all participants. It is currently on hand of the city Brasov for signing.

PHE: You are a very busy public figure. What means work for animal protection to you?

Maja von Hohenzollern: Animals are the weakest members of our society and they need someone, who raises the voice for them and who campaigns for their requirements and rights.
Rescuing animals is a target of life for me. It let us have a look in the deepest human abyss. But it also can bring you the greatest happiness, when an animal could be saved.
Every soul counts.
Despite this I would wish that rescuing animals would not be necessary and that we effectively could change the opinions of humans in a positive way.

PHE: In January 2009 a declaration for voting had been handed in by three dedicated EU parliamentarians. The target was to establish a European Protection of Animals Act.
Exact 99 voices were missing for enacting.
How would you explain this intolerance in the 21st century?

Maja von Hohenzollern: There are still a lot of people, who don’t have any kind of empathy and the relation to animals is missing. Animals are just seen as material things.
That the abuse of animals is just an administrative offence and that the freeing of animals is a criminal act, just shows the striking unbalance of our values.

The one, who doesn’t love animals, also doesn’t love humans.
I would like to say the following to the 99 politicians, who missed giving their vote:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” (Mahatma Gandhi)

PHE: If you could chose a motto, what animals mean to you, which one would that be?

Maja von Hohenzollern: “The love for animals and the love from animals to humans is about purity and beauty, which is beyond competition. Every day I pass together with an animal is enrichment for my life. “

PHE: Do you currently plan further animal protection projects?

Maja von Hohenzollern: I work very close with the ETN, with which we fight European-wide against the killing of animals.
We currently plan a meeting with the island government of Tenerife, to end the killings of Greyhounds. And we of course will go back to Romania, to furthermore watch the situation at the face.
When clicking on the following link www.etn-ev.de, you can watch the move of our trip to Romania.

PHE: Thank you very much for answering our questions. Even our work for animal protections leads just in small steps to success, we all have the same target.

Britta Berkenfeld