“My name is Janez, I love animals more than anything, even if you can’t tell, and I’ve been to prison before,” with these words the former Bandidos president of the Jena chapter Janez Ekart introduces himself. His criminal past is behind him, his love of animals is omnipresent – and that’s why he is planning to open his own animal sanctuary.

He says the main reason is the suffering of animals: “That makes me so sad all over the world.” That’s why he speaks out against circuses and zoos. “I’m sick of people’s indifference or ignorance – that’s why I want to reduce the suffering of animals a little with this animal sanctuary on a small scale.”

A dream born in prison

According to Janez, the idea for the animal sanctuary came about during his six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, which began in 2010: “Who has never disappointed me? Animals – that’s how the idea came about to have my own animal sanctuary at some point.”

Janez had pets since he was a child, and his love of animals followed him into prison: he built insulated cat houses for the farm cats so that they wouldn’t freeze to death in the winter. That’s why he wants to have his own carpentry workshop on his farm.

As a farm worker, he put snails on the side of the path and rescued salamanders and frogs: “There was a stream outside the institution. Then I went to the head of security and gave him the bucket and said, here, please take these out.”

That had already earned him a certain reputation back then: “The other prisoners thought the guy was totally crazy, but I don’t give a damn.”

The finances

Today, the former Bandidos president is already writing his second book, recording an audio book and running a fashion label. He is also collecting donations. To this end, he founded an association in 2022 called “Finally, we can experience love”. Despite founding the association, Janez still lacks the money to fulfill his dream. But he also emphasizes that if you don’t want to support him, you should donate to other animal welfare organizations.

But the donations are not that easy: he has been promised a lot of money, but very few have kept their word. That is why he is counting on his fame: “With these two things, the book and the clothes, I am of course trying to finance the animal sanctuary that I want to buy at some point,” says Janez.

He also wants to open the farm to visitors: “It is also possible that people, once I have screened them, will sponsor the animals.”

This is what his sanctuary should look like

Even though Janez doesn’t have a suitable piece of land yet, he already has some ideas. He wants to open the animal sanctuary with at least one hectare for all animals: “So for dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, pigs, simply for everything that is regional here.” He says he doesn’t have the experience to deal with exotic animals.

Next to the carpentry shop, there will also be space for a pond in which dogs can splash around. Since he has a lot of experience with them, he doesn’t shy away from so-called behaviorally challenged dogs. “I can also imagine, no matter how harsh that may sound, that I will reach my limits at some point,” admits Janez. “But of course he can live with me until he dies, and I will try to socialize this dog until the bitter end.”

Ekart is planning a special burial place for deceased animals: a wavy wall with recesses for urns. “So I want the children (Editor’s note: That’s what he calls the animals) will then stay with me, even after death.” The entire area will later be walled in and the entrance will be controlled in order to protect the animals.

Cooperation with SEK and biker clubs

Because of his own past, Ekart wants to work closely with the police and biker clubs. He knows that pets often pose a problem during special operations units (SEK) operations.

“Of course I am aware that no police, special forces or criminal investigation officer will call me and say, Janez, look out, we have a special forces operation here today or there tomorrow at this time.” However, through his own special forces arrests, he knows how these work: “Then they are busy for a few hours searching the house and everything, and during this time they of course have the opportunity to contact me and say, now you can get the dog out of there or the cat or whatever.”

He has not yet made contact, because “I don’t think it makes sense at the moment to get in touch with people without a farm,” he says.

The people behind Janez’s plans

The animal sanctuary is still a long way off. But Janez has already gathered a team of supporters around her, including veterinarians and dog and horse experts. “Large animals have special requirements and living conditions,” says Jennifer Kästle, a member of the association and responsible for accounting, among other things.

For example, cattle cannot be kept on the same land as horses, donkeys or sheep. Similarly, there is a hectare regulation for animals such as cattle. But dogs from abroad, like the ones Janez wants to take in, are also subject to rules such as disease control. “You can never cover everything and you can never save everyone. That’s why there are contacts,” says Kästle. She has been active in animal welfare for eleven years and has the certificate of expertise according to paragraph 11, which is required for the species-appropriate care of animals.

Janez would like to provide this proof – after his book tour. Because such a farm cannot only be run with love for animals, so that the animals are treated in a species-appropriate manner: “I will acquire the specific knowledge over time, because so far it doesn’t look like I will have the animal sanctuary next year.” He wants to learn through books and training courses.

Janez knows how utopian that sounds, but giving up is not an option for him: “When I set a goal in my head, I have always achieved it – no matter how long I waited for it.”