Lower Saxony funds club for ‘Puppies’ and fetish friends with €182,285
A taxpayer-funded association in Lower Saxony, Germany has received over 182,000 euros since 2020 while organizing events for adults who identify as puppies and dogs.
The Association for Sexual Emancipation (VSE) in Braunschweig has been awarded a total of 182,285 euros from the state government between 2020 and 2025, according to Nius. The funding breakdown shows 14,785 euros in 2020, 22,000 euros in 2021, 66,910 euros in 2022, 22,000 euros in 2023, 28,350 euros in 2024, and 28,240 euros in 2025.
The organization publicly presents itself as an umbrella group for queer activism in Braunschweig. According to its mission statement, the VSE positions itself as an advocacy body fighting stigmatization and discrimination against queer individuals. The association claims its offerings include youth work, education, counseling, self-help groups, and cultural and political events, while describing itself as operating in a democratic, non-violent, anti-sexist, anti-racist, and queer-feminist manner.
Human Puppy Play Events Advertised Alongside State Funding
On promotional materials bearing the logo of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, the association advertises several groups and projects. Among them is a regular meetup called Puppies (Human Pupplay). The description states that all puppies, dogs, mistresses, masters, or interested parties are welcome, adding that participants chat, bark, and play together, with the main goal being that everyone has fun. A puppy outfit is not required but welcomed.
The same promotional banner also advertises Fetisch-Friends, described as a meetup for all men aged 18 and over who have at least one fetish such as rubber, leather, sportswear, workwear, or skin.
State Justifies Funding Through Anti-Discrimination Directive
When questioned by Nius, the Lower Saxony State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Family justified the funding through the so-called LSBTI directive. The office stated that the Association for Sexual Emancipation receives support under regulations governing grants for activities aimed at reducing discrimination against people with same-sex orientation or those who are transgender or intersex.
Images from the Braunschweig Pride parade show men wearing dog masks at events organized by the association. The promotional materials displaying state ministry logos were visible at the Day of Lower Saxony event in Braunschweig.
The case raises questions about the appropriate use of public funds and whether taxpayer money should support organizations that mix legitimate anti-discrimination work with fetish community gatherings. The state’s broad interpretation of anti-discrimination funding appears to extend well beyond traditional civil rights protections.
With information from Nius
