by Guisela Chiarella
Italy has approved sweeping new legislation to combat animal abuse, introducing harsher penalties and expanding legal protections for animals across the country.
The bill, definitively passed by the Senate on Thursday after clearing the lower house in November, increases prison sentences and fines for a range of offenses. Under the new law, killing an animal with cruelty or prolonged suffering is punishable by up to four years in prison and a fine of up to €60,000 — double the previous maximums.
The law also introduces new criminal offenses related to the mistreatment of animals. Organizing violent events involving animals can now result in fines of up to €30,000, while staging animal fights carries a prison sentence of two to four years. Puppy trafficking is now punishable with up to 18 months in prison.
Significantly, the legislation redefines animals as “subjects” with rights protected by law — a shift intended to directly safeguard their welfare. Additional penalties apply if abuse occurs in the presence of minors, involves multiple animals, or is recorded and shared online.
The new rules also make it illegal to keep dogs chained outdoors, a practice animal rights groups have long criticized.
The bill was championed by animal rights advocate and Member of Parliament Michela Vittoria Brambilla, who described the law as a long-overdue measure to address abuse and impunity.
The legislation aligns Italy with a growing number of European countries adopting stricter protections for animals.
