Dieter Ehrengruber
Managing Director
Dieter Ehrengruber has accompanied Gut Aiderbichl from the very beginning and was instrumental in founding the unique meeting place between humans and animals.
It was coincidence that brought Dieter Ehrengruber to animal welfare. Back then, years before Gut Aiderbichl was founded, he met Michael Aufhauser by chance in a park in Salzburg. Michael Aufhauser was there with his employees and a large group of dogs. It was already getting dark and Michael Aufhauser asked him to help him with his dogs. The two struck up a conversation and Michael Aufhauser told him about his dogs, their worries, fears, needs and quirks. And after just a few minutes, Dieter Ehrengruber saw the animals with different eyes. They weren’t just dogs – they were individual creatures.
Michael Aufhauser told him about his idea to create places where hundreds of thousands of people could meet, experience and feel rescued animals. His aim was also to appeal to young people and get them interested in animals.
Dieter Ehrengruber was fascinated by this vision. Although he couldn’t immediately imagine exactly what Michael Aufhauser had in mind, his words left him speechless. Today, Dieter Ehrengruber knows that he met his greatest visionary that day, because his encounter with Michael Aufhauser changed him forever: It was the foundation stone for the rest of his life.
Since that day, Dieter Ehrengruber has supported Michael Aufhauser in realising his vision. He was also instrumental in the founding of Gut Aiderbichl – the unique meeting place between humans and animals.
In 2003, Dieter Ehrengruber took over the management of Gut Aiderbichl GmbH and has been responsible for internal processes, planning and construction ever since. Dieter Ehrengruber was also involved in the establishment of the three non-profit Gut Aiderbichl foundations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, where he holds the position of foundation director.
Since Michael Aufhauser fell seriously ill in May 2015, Dieter Ehrengruber has had overall responsibility for all farms and all Gut Aiderbichl activities. Just as our founder Michael Aufhauser would have wished.
