Harsher Penalties for Animal Abusers in Italy
Brambilla's bill passed in parliament: a turning point in animal protection in Italy.
In recent years, Italy has made significant progress in the area of animal protection.
The legislative focus is increasingly on tightening penalties for animal cruelty and raising awareness of animal welfare. With this law advanced by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, Italy is changing its approach: animals are no longer mere objects of compassion, but subjects of rights.
Those who abuse or kill dogs, cats or other pets in Italy will in future risk four years in prison and fines of up to 60’000 euros.
The bill, first signed by MP Michela Vittoria Brambilla of Noi Moderati, was also adopted by the Senate without amendments and is therefore final. The text substantially tightens criminal and administrative sanctions for offences against pets. This is a measure that has been awaited for over twenty years and was welcomed in parliament by all majority factions as a decisive step towards the legal protection of animals .
The reform introduces a stricter sentencing framework for those who organise or participate in animal fights: up to four years in prison for organisers and fines of up to 160’000 euros. Those who participate “in any capacity” face a penalty of up to two years. For the regular organisers of such events, the same measures as those applicable to Mafia-related offences apply.
Among the most symbolic innovations is the nationwide ban on keeping dogs on a chain: those who violate it risk a fine of up to 5’000 euros.
In addition to recognizing crimes committed directly against pets, the text also tightens penalties for the mistreatment, killing and exploitation of animals. This is achieved through increased prison and financial penalties as well as an expansion of aggravating circumstances, such as in cases involving the presence of minors or the online dissemination of crimes. This last measure was necessary to prevent the copycat effect associated with social networks.
Wild and farm animals overlooked in the new law
Wild animals (and farm animals even more so) are largely excluded from the new law, contrary to the original intention of the lead signatory. Fratelli d’Italia as well as the Lega are close to the lobby of hobby hunters and farm animal keepers, and indeed the Minister of Agriculture and former brother-in-law of Giorgia Meloni, Francesco Lollobrigida, is working on a reform of the hunting law, which provides for far-reaching liberalization, particularly with regard to protected wildlife species such as bear and wolf.
Animal protection organizations therefore speak of a «missed opportunity». They view the legal treatment of pets as independent legal subjects positively, but note the absence of effective measures to protect wild and farm animals.
The persistence in prosecuting animal abusers shows that Italy is engaging seriously with the issue of animal welfare. By improving the legal framework and promoting public awareness, the foundations are being laid for more effective protection of animals. Yet much remains to be done to ensure that existing laws are consistently enforced and that animal welfare continues to gain greater importance in society.
IG Wild beim Wild welcomes this news, but regrets the failure of amendments that would have made the law more effective.
