Whistleblowers play a key role in protecting animals from cruelty

Anonymous reporting to authorities plays a crucial role in uncovering and preventing crimes against animals and the environment.

This was the central message of the event “Whistleblowing and Animal Protection”, which took place on 6 May in Rome at the offices of the law firm Eversheds Sutherland.

The reporting of violations of EU law or of offences punishable under the Italian legal system – particularly in the areas of environmental protection and animal health and welfare – and the protection of those individuals are essential for safeguarding the public interest in preventing and prosecuting such conduct.

In Italy, whistleblowers are protected by Legislative Decree 24/2023, which implements Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law. The decree also contains provisions protecting persons who report violations of national laws, including crimes against animals.

The Italian Penal Code punishes anyone who kills or mistreats an animal “out of cruelty or without necessity,” anyone who organises or promotes animal fights, anyone who abandons pets, and anyone who kills, captures or keeps specimens of a protected wildlife species.

Non-governmental organisations in the field of animal protection play a key role in raising public awareness by exposing systematic cruelty towards animals – as investigations carried out by Animal Equality demonstrate – and by providing citizens with the tools they need to take action.

As part of the “Io non combatto Fondazione Cave Canem and Humane World for Animals Italy – formerly known as Humane Society International in Italy – have developed the Citizen's Guide, a tool designed to help the public identify and report illegal dog fighting.

When someone witnesses criminal acts in which animals are harmed, it is essential to report these in accordance with the procedures and responsibilities set out in the applicable regulations. Citizens should not attempt to replace law enforcement or investigative authorities, but rather seek to provide them with all the information necessary for an effective intervention. This is the key message of the guide, which encourages active and responsible citizenship – an essential factor in eliminating a phenomenon that constitutes a serious form of animal cruelty, said Martina Pluda, Director of Humane World for Animals Italy.

"When we enter kennels or breeding facilities that do not comply with regulations and lack the minimum structural and management requirements to ensure animal welfare, we find not only mistreated animals, but also evidence of a system that has failed. We have a duty to support the authorities with technical expertise and to promote a culture of respect and legality. Whistleblowing can be a powerful instrument for change, but it requires concrete protection for those who come forward and structured pathways for the recovery of the animals affected. An investigation is only the beginning – the real change lies in the possibility of restoring dignity and a future to the rescued animals," explained lawyer Federica Faiella, President of Fondazione Cave Canem.

The event concluded with a screening of the documentary "Food for Profit" by Giulia Innocenzi and Paolo D’Ambrosi on factory farming, which highlights the role of investigative journalism in gathering and publishing reports from whistleblowers.

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