Law August 14th,1991, # 281
Translated by
Piera Bignetti
Law
"quadro"
on the matter of pets and the prevention of straying
The Chamber
of
Deputies and the Senate of the Republic approved.
The President
of the Republic approved the following law:
1) General Principles
The State
enforces and regulates the treatment of domestic animals, condemns any
violence against
them, condemns the bad treatment or the abandoning of them, with the
aim
to promote the cohabitation of humans and animals, and to promote
public
health and the environment.
2) Treatment of dogs and other
pets
1. The control
of the population of dogs and cats through the limitations of births is
done ? keeping into account the scientific progress ? at the local
public health facilities. Pet owners or guardians can use veterinarian
offices approved by recognized dog associations or animal-protective
corporations, at their own expense.
2. Stray dogs
found or captured or hospitalized at the above institutions (comma 1
article 4)
cannot be put to sleep.
3. Dogs
captured or coming from the above institutions (comma 1 article 4)
cannot be used for
clinical trials.
4. Stray dogs
found or captured with a tattoo must be handed back to the owner or
guardian.
5. Stray dogs
found without a tattoo, as well as the dogs hospitalized at the above
institutions (comma 1 article 4), must be tattooed; if no one searches
for them within 60 days, these dogs can be given in adoption to private
individuals who can
guarantee them a good treatment or to animal-protective corporations,
after
receiving a treatment against rabies, "echinococcosi", and other
transmissible
diseases.
6. Dogs
hospitalized at the above institutions (comma 1 article 4)- with the
exception of what defined by the articles 86, 87, 91 of the
veterinarian police corps approved by the President of the Republic on
February 8th 1954, number 20 and following modifications ? can be put
asleep, only in a euthanasia way, by veterinarians, only if severely
ill, incurable, or of proven danger.
7. It is forbidden for anyone to mistreat stray cats.
8. Stray cats are neutered by the health authority responsible for the
territory
and eventually reinserted in their group. 9. Stray cats can be put
asleep
only if severely ill or incurable.
10. The protective associations can ? in agreement with the local
authorities
? manage the colonies of local stray cats, guaranteeing the good health
and
the surviving conditions.
11. The protective associations can manage the associations in comma 1
article
4, under the authority of a veterinarian office for that territory.
12. The associations in comma 1 article 4 can keep dogs in custody
against
a payment and offer an emergency service
3) Regional Responsibilities
1) The regions rule with their own
laws, within 6
months
the approval of this law, the institution of a canine register at the
city
hall or the local public health offices, as well as the modalities dog
owners
should follow to register their dogs and how to release the dog
identification,
which should be given using a painless tattoo.
2) The regions
should determine, with their own law, within 6 months of the approval
of
this law, the criteria to rehabilitate dog pounds and housing for dogs.
These structures should guarantee healthy living conditions for the
dogs, follow sanitary rules, and are subject to the health and sanitary
control from the
local public health authorities. The regional law also determines the
criteria
and the division between the counties for the implementations of the
project
under their responsibilities.
3) The regions
should adopt, with their own law, within 6 months of the approval of
this
law, and after a hearing of the associations for animals, protective,
and hunting (?) ? which operate in that regional territory ? a program
to prevent straying.
4) The program
at comma 3 includes intervention for the following:
a) Initiatives
to create awareness ? including schools ? on a correct relationship
between the respect for animal life and the defense of their habitat.
b) Courses to
instruct the personnel of the regions and the regional health units
working on the services this law provides, as well as courses for the
"guardie zoofile" who
collaborate with the above authorities.
This law, including the state seal,
will be included
in
the official collection of the normative papers of the Italian
Republic.
Everyone is required to follow it and implement it as government law.