Just days ago, the Senate passed the bill for crimes against animals by a show of hands. The legislation marks a significant shift in Italy’s approach to animal protection, as it imposes stricter penalties for abuse and abandonment, while enshrining a groundbreaking legal principle: from now on, animals are recognized as legal subjects entitled to rights.
The bill was introduced by NM party member Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a long-time champion of animal welfare. The new legal framework brings substantial amendments to both the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, placing greater emphasis on the protection of animals.
Stronger safeguards and harsher penalties
The legislation includes a package of measures targeting those who mistreat, abandon, or kill animals. Penalties have been significantly increased: organizing animal fights could lead to two to four years in prison, along with fines of up to €30,000—the same fine also applies to participants.
Those convicted of killing an animal may face up to four years in prison, with financial penalties reaching €60,000. Importantly, those found guilty of abuse will no longer be able to pay a fine in lieu of imprisonment: the new law mandates prison sentences of up to two years with no alternative sanctions.
Another key provision concerns the fate of seized animals: their euthanization is now prohibited, and they must remain in protective custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings. This measure answers a long-standing demand from animal rights groups and activists.
Beyond addressing acts of violence, the law introduces a series of prohibitions, including a total ban on keeping dogs tied up with chains or similar restraining devices that limit their movement. Violations of this rule are punishable by fines ranging from €500 to €5,000.
Toward rights for all animals
The approval of this bill represents a major step forward—but it should be seen as just the beginning. Animal rights advocates stress that the law must go further to include all animals, not just pets. Wild animals, for example, remain vulnerable, and the legislation should impose penalties for crimes such as poaching.
Unfortunately, the current government appears to be heading in the opposite direction. A proposed hunting reform could dismantle key protections for wildlife, effectively undermining the very law that was just passed. Such a move would create an unacceptable disparity between domestic and wild animals, violating the spirit of Article 9 of the Italian Constitution, which enshrines the protection of biodiversity and the environment.
