Organization

The hedgehog rescue association was founded on October 01, 2021. Since then, we have rescued a large number of hedgehogs and unfortunately put some of them out of their misery, in collaboration with vets. We realized that after our start, we needed a professional and larger hedgehog sanctuary to save even more hedgehogs and relieve the local veterinary practices and clinics, which usually do not take in wild animals. This becomes even more important after a hedgehog station in Oberentfelden was closed at the end of 2022 by order of the veterinary office. We are now proud to announce that our professional hedgehog station has been successfully completed. In this regard, we have entrusted the management of the new station to a trained EFZ wildlife keeper to ensure professional operation. Piet Umiker, whose experience and unpaid work made the organization so professional in the first place, will take over the management. Our commitment is appreciated by the canton of Aargau/Solothurn, as they want to avoid forced closures like the one in Oberentfelden. We are proud to be a pioneer in hedgehog rescue in the region and to do our best to help the endangered hedgehogs and improve their living conditions. We are also committed to biodiversity by promoting native plants at the edge of the forest and giving talks at schools to raise awareness of wildlife conservation.

Our goals

Igel-Hilfe is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of hedgehogs through rescue, education and research. At our rescue center, we take in hedgehogs in need, nurse them back to health and place them in accredited homes. Through our education programs, we help society provide a happier and safer environment for hedgehogs. We also support the funding of various research projects dealing with hedgehog health problems

Our team

With a great deal of commitment and passion, we help where we discover suffering and help where others look away.

Piet Umiker

Managing Director

Ever since I can remember, I have been guided by my heart for animals.
As a child, I used to bring home a bird that had fallen out of its nest in the forest and nurse it back to health.
I also remember bringing hedgehogs to the hedgehog station in winter when I was a little boy.
So it was not surprising that I also dedicated my professional future to animals.
In 2016, I founded the Tierhotel 5 Stern AG to realize my dream of a boarding kennel that goes far beyond the legal requirements for species-appropriate animal husbandry.
Because of my love for animals and my desire to raise awareness of species-appropriate animal husbandry among the next generation, I am involved in the Hedgehog Aid Association.
Through my role as managing director, I can offer the association a solid basis and help to protect the lives of hedgehogs.

Michael Klauser

Board of Directors, President

Although I don’t have any pets, the welfare of animals is close to my heart.
Through the work of the association, I first became aware of the situation in Swiss animal shelters and the fundamental problems.
I think the association is a great vehicle for bringing about a change in the current situation.
That’s why I decided to work for the Igel-Hilfe association free of charge with my graphic design company Blue Yeti Studios.

Petra Scheidegger

Board of Directors, Actuary

As a dog owner, I experience every day how valuable it can be for humans and animals to live together in harmony.
Unfortunately, there are more and more animals that find themselves in dangerous situations due to human intervention in nature.
I would like to make a contribution to ensuring that all animals in need are given the chance of a good life.
That’s why I took part in the founding of the Hedgehog Aid Association and support the association on a voluntary basis.

Lorena Graber

Responsible animal care

I turned my passion into a career and trained as an EFZ animal keeper.
Volunteering for the association allows me to follow my heart’s desire and do something good for found animals.
I would like to help find the animals a new home or release them into the wild in an animal-friendly way.
In addition to caring for the hedgehogs entrusted to us, I am also responsible for training and keeping them occupied so that they can experience a wonderful and fulfilling transitional period with us.

Nick Willershausen

Wildlife management

As I grew up with a quasi-zoo, my ever-growing fascination and love for the animal world began at a very young age. I also learned very early on that this world is facing ever-increasing challenges from humans and that people are needed to counteract this, now more than ever.
At the age of 4, after a drastic experience, I decided to become a vet. This wish is still with me and will be fulfilled in the next few years.
A versatile detour led me to train as a wildlife keeper – a profession I would not want to miss – in a zoo with a sanctuary for native wild animals, so I already have a lot of experience and knowledge which is expanding every day, With these resources and a boundless commitment and drive, I can bring various benefits for nature, animal and species conservation, be it in the treatment, care and release of animals in need of help, by sensitizing society to the natural and animal world and the associated all-encompassing ecological relationships.
By training specialist staff or educating and inspiring the conservationists of tomorrow, or by planning and implementing conservation projects and much more.
Together with Tierschutz Nordwestschweiz, I believe we can help heal a broken world a little.

Laura Sandmeier

Manager

It is not only our duty but also a privilege to care for those who cannot help themselves.
Working with hedgehogs reminds me of this every day.

Felix Schneider

Wildlife keeper

Working with the Hedgehog Aid Association allows me to put my understanding of ecosystems into practice and at the same time do something for wildlife rescue.

Ana Markovic

Wildlife keeper

By rescuing and rehabilitating hedgehogs, I help to maintain the ecological balance in our environment.

Marco Rossi

Wildlife keeper

By educating people about the importance of hedgehogs to our ecosystem, I hope to bring about a change in the way we treat our environment.

Future goals

With gratitude for the support we have received so far from donors and legacy donors, we have to realistically state that the dream of completely taking over the Tierhotel 5 Stern and transforming it into a loving animal shelter is still a considerable way off.
In order to achieve this goal more quickly, we have joined forces with the following organizations: Tierschutz Nordwestschweiz and the Verein schutzbedürftige Hunde.
We have entered into this close partnership in the interests of the animals.
Nevertheless, we are aware that we still lack considerable funds to realize this dream.
However, the joint costs are easier to bear, and in the end each organization implements its individual goals in accordance with the statutes.

This comprehensive takeover will enable us to intensify our mission and save even more hedgehogs in need from suffering.
Close cooperation with the cantons enables us to deepen our commitment to animal welfare and create a broader basis for the protection of hedgehogs in need.

An important part of our plans for the future is the training of qualified animal keepers who will ensure sustainable care and attention for our protégés.
Through this training, we not only create a professional environment for our animals, but also invest in the future of animal welfare.

The Tierhotel 5 Stern has generously granted us the right of first refusal, giving us a unique opportunity to turn our vision into reality.
We firmly believe that this strategic decision will enable us to make the shelter a place of hope and happiness for animals in need.
However, this is only possible with their support, so that we can buy the company in the future and turn it into a foundation.

Thanks to the support of people like you, we can realize these ambitious goals.
Your donations and legacies are the key to creating a better future for the animals.
We warmly invite you to be part of this groundbreaking change and look forward to your support on our journey towards a comprehensive animal shelter.

Thank you for your trust and generosity.

Our partner organizations

Schenker & Partner

Our auditors

We are proud to present Schenker & Partner as our trusted audit partner. With their in-depth expertise and unwavering commitment, they ensure that our financial and business procedures not only comply with legal requirements, but are also in line with best practice.

Come and take a look.

Animal Welfare Northwestern Switzerland

Through our daily work with the animals and in exchange with various "people, authorities and ..." we feel obliged to become active in the Aarau area as well as in the canton of Aargau and beyond.
This is how we stand up for the weakest among us, the animals.

Come and take a look.

Association for dogs in need of protection

Our partner organizations

In addition to the hedgehog station, we have a second association that looks after man's best friends. Especially when they have had their day as friends and are abandoned.
We give vulnerable dogs a home, care and medical attention. We also try to find their forever home.

Come and take a look.

Animal hotel 5 star

Some of you may already know us as hosts in our animal hotel. The facility is also home to the hedgehog station - structurally and hygienically separate.
At the Tierhotel, we give our animal guests a vacation feeling and lots of love so that they want for nothing when the human family is traveling or on business.

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Exolynk digitization platform

The digital animal patient file from the Swiss software platform Exolynk makes it easier for us to document health information and treatment journals for admitted animals, automates our administrative processes and supports our animal carers with state-of-the-art technology for efficient diagnosis and safe medication.

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Organization

Our goals

Our team

Piet Umiker

Managing Director

Michael Klauser

Board of Directors, President

Petra Scheidegger

Board of Directors, Actuary

Lorena Graber

Responsible animal care

Nick Willershausen

Wildlife management

Laura Sandmeier

Manager

Felix Schneider

Wildlife keeper

Ana Markovic

Wildlife keeper

Marco Rossi

Wildlife keeper

Future goals

Our partner organizations

Schenker & Partner

Animal Welfare Northwestern Switzerland

Association for dogs in need of protection

Animal hotel 5 star

Exolynk digitization platform

Downloads

IBAN: CH11 0900 0000 1581 8871 2

Contact us

e-mail

Office

Our animal shelter