SEYs volunteer animal welfare inspectors

SEY has approximately 120 animal welfare inspectors and about 20 animal welfare advisors.
The inspectors do not get paid for their work, only their travel costs to/from the inspection can be covered. Most of SEYs volunteer inspectors earn their daily living in other occupations.

Being an inspector requires time and emotional strength - it is not simple to go to strangers home to discuss their animal keeping habits.
An inspector has to get along well with people and be able to manage even difficult situations.

The volunteer inspectors are not official animal welfare authorities. SEYs inspectors do the work that is by law the authorities task, but the authorities are way too busy to handle all the suspected animal welfare abuse cases.

Animal welfare advisors do not do inspection visits alone, but concentrates more on advice and counselling. Those who want to become advisors or inspectors have to participate in SEYs basic training course in order to be eligible to apply to become an inspector or advisor.

Serious animal welfare abuse cases are transferred to the relevant authorities. Many inspectors work in close cooperation with the animal welfare authorities in their region. Fortunately not all of the cases are not very severe and a visit from an animal welfare inspector can be a "wake-up call" for the animals owner who then rectifies what has been wrong.