Thanks to the impetus provided by our petition and the work that has been carried out by local associations, the bill proposed by regional councilor Giuseppe Graziano, namely the law for the “Protection of pets and prevention of stray animals”, is continuing to make good progress with the Calabrian Health Commission, and was once again on the agenda and discussed at the meeting held on 8 November.
The bill may still require certain adjustments and modifications, which could also be discussed both by the regional council and by the committee, but the broad outline is focused the theme of stray animals. Calabria is one of the worst performing regions in terms of combating this phenomenon, which assumed the proportions of a full-scale emergency some time ago. It is for this reason that Save The Dogs will continue to follow the ongoing progress of this bill, submitting observations and proposals for improvement, in the hopes that this will help push these measures through as soon as possible.
Among the innovations included in this new legislation, one of the key points concerns a ban on the construction of kennels with a capacity in excess of 200 dogs, to prevent the perpetuation of facilities being provided for strays that primarily benefit the people running operations rather than the welfare of the animals themselves. The objective of providing at least the bare minimum for them becomes impossible to achieve in these massive dog pounds, which instead become mere detention centers for animals captured in the region, who often become inmates for life.
Another important element of this bill is that of finally banning the keeping of dogs on chains, as well as forbidding their confinement in unsuitable enclosed spaces such as balconies. In addition, we hope that the new law will prohibit the imprisonment of animals inside basements, garages and sheds, thus ensuring that animals can be housed in suitable environments and stay in constant contact with the family they live with.
Over the coming months, we will keep you informed of the progress that is made and the results of our efforts, which we hope will serve as a stimulus for the region of Calabria to adopt new legislation that guarantees that animals and pets receive the care, respect and welfare they deserve.