It may surprise some people, as it has surprised me, that stray cats and dogs are given a lot of protection in Italy; far more than in most other countries. This probably shouldn’t surprise me because the stray cats – I’m loathe to call them feral cats because they appear to be semi-domesticated – of Rome are well known.
I’m told that there are 5,000 cat colonies registered with Rome’s health authorities. The most famous of these are the cats that live in the ruins of Torre Argentina, the site where Julius Caesar was stabbed to death.
The place wouldn’t be the same without the cats because we’ve seen so many photographs of them. But the cats of Rome aren’t the only stray animals that are protected so comprehensively.
I have unearthed a 1991 Italian law – I presume therefore a federal law to use American terminology – which provides universal protection to stray cats and dogs. It is called, the Framework Law on Pets and Prevention of Animal Strays. As Italy is a longterm member of the EU this law will be compliant with EU law and directives and it was probably created out of EU law. It indicates that the EU has advanced animal protection laws. Bureaucratic the EU might be, but it does set high standards on animal welfare.
It came into force on the 14 September 1991. The section below comes from LAW 14 August 1991. This is just a sample of what this law looks like:
Art. 2
Treatment of dogs and other pets
- The control of the population of dogs and cats by means of birth limitation shall, taking into account scientific progress, be carried out by the veterinary services of the local health units. Owners or keepers may have recourse at their own expense to the authorised veterinary surgeries of dog societies, animal protection societies and private individuals.
- Stray dogs found, captured or otherwise sheltered in the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4 may not be euthanized.
- Dogs captured or otherwise coming from the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4 may not be used for experimentation.
- Captured stray dogs, duly tattooed, shall be returned to the owner or keeper.
- Captured non-tattooed stray dogs, as well as dogs housed in the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4, must be tattooed; if not claimed within sixty days, they can be transferred to private individuals who give guarantees of good treatment or to protectionist associations, subject to prophylactic treatment against rabies, echinococcosis and other communicable diseases.
- Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 86, 87 and 91 of the Veterinary Police Regulations approved by Decree No 320 of the President of the Republic of 8 February 1954, as amended, dogs admitted to the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4 may be euthanised exclusively by veterinary surgeons if they are seriously ill, incurable or proven dangerous.
- It is forbidden for anyone to mistreat free-roaming cats.
- Free-roaming cats shall be sterilised by the competent health authority and readmitted to their group.
- Free-roaming cats may only be euthanized if they are seriously ill or incurable.
- Protectionist bodies and associations may, in agreement with local health units, manage colonies of free-living cats, ensuring their health care and survival conditions.
- Protectionist bodies and associations may manage the facilities referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4, under the health supervision of the veterinary services of the local health unit.
- The establishments referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 4 may keep their own dogs in custody for a fee and guarantee the first aid service.
There are some interesting observations. For example, stray dogs that have been captured by the authorities and placed into pounds or animal shelters cannot be euthanised. And they can’t be used for experimentation. If they have a tattoo identification they should be returned to their owner.
In fact, it says that if a stray dog is captured by the authorities and housed in a shelter they must be tattooed with an ID and if they’re not claimed within 60 days they can be transferred to a person who must provide a guarantee of good treatment. It is interesting that tattoo IDs are being used. I wonder if this has evolved into microchipping?
Legislative decree No. 281/1991 states the standards for the treatment of companion and stray animals. It states that an owner must register dogs, and anyone who abandons their animals will be fined. It also prohibits the killing of stray dogs and cats unless the animal is affected by an incurable disease or is a proven danger. These killings can only be performed by a veterinarian.
Wikipedia
As for cats, “It is forbidden for anyone to mistreat free-roaming cats”. What about that for a nationwide animal protection provision? That particular clause is very wide and encompasses all free-roaming cats. It would seem to apply to both freeroaming domestic cats and freeroaming stray and feral cats.
And you can only euthanise a stray cat that’s been brought into a shelter if they are seriously ill and the illnesses incurable. Normal, you’d think but over the years millions of cats and dogs have been ‘euthanised’ in American shelters when they were perfectly healthy and adoptable.
I don’t know how well enforced this is but if it’s enforced properly then the standard of care afforded to shelter animals in Italy is higher than you would find in say America and certainly in almost any other country.
Italians are known to love their cats, which is illustrated in laws to protect feral cat colonies. Cats can roam wherever they want even among, as we know above, the country’s historic landmarks. One website tells me that if anybody harms a cat in Italy they can be charged with a crime. That would appear to be normal but it seems to encompass feral cats as well and I know that in America, for instance, there are people who shoot feral cats for fun and, it appears, get away with it.
This other source also says that stray cats can’t be relocated and the authorities are responsible for sterilising local street cat colonies.
I think I will stop there and conclude by saying that Italy has some very enlightened animal welfare and protection laws for stray cats and dogs including feral cats and dogs. But the question is how well enforced are they?
In a recent post I looked at a couple of examples where animal laws were poorly enforced one of which comes from the UK and the other comes from the USA. Click on the link below if you wish to read the article.
Bird lovers control the public opinion machine, their research spreads around the world, and people believe what bird lovers say more
Yes, I get your point. Bird lovers make more noise on conservation and make some pretty wild claims (as far as I am concerned) about domestic and feral cat predation. Cat owners are on the defensive. And there is a gradual shift towards keeping cats inside because of this but cat owners don’t do anywhere near enough to make the inside of their home more interesting for a cat or cats. So there are many more bored and overfeed cats which has led to a cat obesity epidemic when combined with dry cat food and more health problems and a shortened lifespan.
But this kind of research can only lead to very horrible consequences in China, you understand what kind of country China is, this could lead to a nationwide killing of cats
It won’t but China needs to create animal welfare laws. It is scandalous that the second biggest economy has no animal welfare laws. Absolutely scandalous. It shows the world how bad they are on animal welfare.
I am in China, where there is a national hatred of cats and dogs, where killings are common and even justified in the eyes of many
Would you like to write an article on this topic for this website?
There will be no animal welfare law in China. We see no hope
There will be no animal welfare law in China. We see no hope,At the same time, because of the research in the United States, many people think that cats are pests, so killing cats and other animals is very common in China, and many people think that this is a just act. The Chinese government will not make laws to prohibit animal cruelty, nor will it regulate animal breeding and combat abandonment
Many animal cruelty videos come from China, and many people make money from these videos. They’re expanding like crazy all over the world
India is also a source of these cruel so called animal rescue videos. But China is king for animal cruelty.
，If the negative research on cats is changed, it may affect Chinese public opinion, and even increase the tear in Chinese society, which may be good for the fight against China. Every time people in China call for a law against animal cruelty, many Chinese media will send out a lot of negative information about cats, mainly from American studies, and we know very well their purpose
It’s time to change the research on cats’ negative impact on wildlife, and for political reasons as well
I have been trying to do that for years! I have many articles on this. Here is one of perhaps hundreds of articles I have written:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/example-of-how-a-journalist-carelessly-distorts-information-on-domestic-and-feral-cat-predation.html
If the negative research on cats is changed, it may affect Chinese public opinion, and even increase the tear in Chinese society, which may be good for the fight against China. Every time people in China call for a law against animal cruelty, many Chinese media will send out a lot of negative information about cats, mainly from American studies, and we know very well their purpose，I am not a supporter of ccp for various reasons
Our ability is very limited, we have no voice, people are more willing to believe what bird lovers say, especially in China
That’s called speciesism! Cats are disliked and birds are liked. Horrible speciesism. Entirely wrong and immoral.
Because birds are wild animals, they are more liked by people, people think that to protect wild animals is to protect human itself, which is more in line with human interests
Well, I think the reason why millions of people prefer birds over domestic cats is because cats are capable predators which kill birds and birds are non-predators and victims to cats sometimes. That said, millions of people like cats and birds in equal measure. In many ways, birds represent nature and wildlife.
There is no animal welfare law in China. There is no hope. This is a sick and twisted country
Some truth in that. 🤢
We’re in the Middle Ages again, but this time domestic cats are demons all over the world, especially in China