Pet ban by the Greens? No!

The debate about pet bans and the Green Party seems to be a prime example of the spread of misinformation. Rumors and made-up quotes are introduced into public discussion without the origin or truth of these statements being clear to many.

What is the pet debate about?

It is claimed that the Greens – particularly German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock – want to introduce a pet ban.

This claim is based on an alleged quote from Baerbock, which, however, cannot be verified upon closer inspection and is described by the party itself as a hoax.

This text is about the CO2 emissions from pets and the fact that they are so large that private animal husbandry should be abolished. The text in full:

End of pet ownership

“We can save around 19 million tons of carbon dioxide in Germany just by eliminating dogs. This corresponds to almost as much CO2 as a car would release if it traveled 10,000 times around the world - almost 10% of road traffic. There are also cats, horses and many other animals. “Private animal husbandry must therefore come to an end, even if it comes through a CO2 tax on pets,” says Annalena Baerbock (39). [sic!]

We ourselves reported on this topic HERE and HERE in .

Our assessment of the pet ban

The claim that the Greens are calling for a ban on pets has no basis. Both the source research and the official statements of the party and its representatives clearly show that this is a fictitious story. The spread of such misinformation often serves political purposes and aims to discredit certain groups in the public eye.

We asked the Greens directly in 2021 and received a corresponding response from press spokeswoman Nicola Kabel:

Dear Mr. Wolf, thank you for your message!

The quote is simply made up, Annalena Baerbock didn't say that.

Kind regards
ALLIANCE 90/THE GREEN
Press Office Federal Executive Board

What's behind it?

We are dealing here with the classic so-called “Green bashing” and the ban party narrative. For years we have seen that the Greens in particular have been accused of calling for all sorts of nonsensical bans ( barbecuing bans for Germans as an example ).

In connection with this narrative and also the bashing, topics that are highly emotional are repeatedly brought up. Children and of course pets are particularly popular. So if I accuse someone of banning pets, I'm creating an enemy image. And that's exactly what this hoax is aimed at.

Facts about banning pets

The research shows that the specific quote attributed to Annalena Baerbock was never used. Searches do not lead to any reliable sources that could confirm the quote. Instead, there are numerous articles and fact checks that expose the statement as fictitious. Even in the Green Party's election manifesto and in official statements there is no indication of a planned ban on pets. The repetition of the hoax, even after it has already been refuted in the past, shows how persistent misinformation can be.

Questions and answers about banning pets

Question 1: Was the pet ban proposed by the Greens?
Answer 1: No, there is no evidence that the Greens have called for such a ban.

Question 2: Does the cited ban from Annalena Baerbock exist?
Answer 2: No, the quote is made up and was never uttered by Baerbock.

Question 3: Why are such false reports circulating?
Answer 3: They are often used to discredit political opponents and spread misinformation.

Question 4: How should one deal with such claims?
Answer 4: Critical examination and search for reliable sources are essential to debunk false reports.

Question 5: What do the Greens say about these claims?
Answer 5: The Greens have made it clear that this is a false report and that there are no plans to ban pets.

Conclusion on the topic of pet bans

The claim that the Greens have called for a ban on pets is clearly false. Both the search for evidence and official statements confirm that this is a fabricated story. This case highlights the importance of critical engagement with information and the need to take fact-checking seriously to counter the spread of misinformation.

To stay informed and protect yourself from misinformation, we recommend subscribing newsletter online lectures and workshops .

Also read:
Annalena Baerbock is particularly often affected by disinformation
Changing clothes in the crisis area: Baerbock's visit to Ukraine unravels
Cem Özdemir and the forest law: Panic is unfounded