Dispute over defects

“Botched up” dog house? Tough fronts in the trial

"We're not allowed in here" - the new dog house cost around 2.5 million euros and the flagship building became a nuisance.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

The construction company Strabag still wants 385,000 euros from the Animal Welfare Association for Tyrol, which, however, sees "botched construction" and will not pay. At the start of the civil proceedings, hardened fronts became clear, now witnesses and experts have their say and it will probably be expensive . . .

For an hour during the meeting at the regional court on Tuesday, it looked as if representatives of Strabag and the animal welfare association might be able to reach an agreement after all. This could also avoid legal costs (probably several tens of thousands of euros!).

Long list of alleged defects
The animal welfare association lists 13 defects, including sub-items, in the new dog house, which is a 2.5 million euro project - the "Krone" reported. To this day, the hoped-for flagship - although urgently needed - is not in operation.

I would let my child play here without a second thought, it's not the Grand Canyon.

Strabag-Vertreter zur kritisierten Sickergrube

The completely opposing viewpoints on the topic of the soakaway, which is located in the middle of the training meadow, were striking. The club believes there is a "risk of falling" for trainers and staff walking around in the 50-centimetre-deep pit. "I would let my child play here without worrying, it's not the Grand Canyon," replied a Strabag representative. And yet it was the soakaway where an agreement (i.e. improvement by Strabag) was most likely to be reached.

Veronika Rom-Erhard in the dog house, which is still not occupied. The defects are too great, emphasizes the animal welfare association.

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Drain without a gradient as one of the sticking points
The fronts are hardened when it comes to the screeds in the dog rooms. "There is no slope, the water does not run into the gully," emphasized the association's lawyer. A Strabag representative countered this with the specifications for the construction project, which state: "The surfaces must be smoothed completely flat." Or should common sense dictate that a slope should always be installed in rooms with gullies?

Ultimately, we had no choice but to take this to court.

Veronika Rom-Erhard, Vereinsobfrau

Wood or concrete as a fundamental question
The dispute extends to the association's fundamental objection that a concrete building was expected instead of a wooden one! "Ultimately, we had no choice but to take this to court," said association chairwoman Veronika Rom-Erhard to the "Krone" afterwards. Renovation measures carried out in-house or contracted out elsewhere would have gone beyond all limits, costing up to 600,000 euros. Previous rounds of talks about the list of defects had come to nothing.

At the continuation in February, it must first be clarified what exact specifications the former club management made with the construction company. To make matters worse, the entire board of the association changed after a new election during the ongoing construction project. One thing is certain: it will be expensive for the loser . . .