The translation of this law has been certified by the Rutgers University Animal Rights Center in New Jersey, USA, directed by Professor Gary Francione.

1. In order to improve relations between human- and nonhuman animals and to safeguard the wellbeing of the public and that of the environment, the State promotes and disciplines the safekeeping of companion animals and condemns any acts of cruelty and mistreatment inflicted upon them, including that of abandoning an animal.

1. The public health service veterinarians are responsible for controlling the dog and cat population by limiting the birth of puppies and kittens in keeping with scientific progress. Animal owners or keepers may have sterilizations performed at their own expense at authorized animal hospitals run by dog clubs, humane societies, or privately run clinics.
2. It is forbidden to euthanize captured strays or dogs impounded according to Article 4, Comma 1.
3. It is forbidden to use captured strays or dogs impounded according to Article 4, Comma 1, for experimentation.
4. Captured dogs with identifying tattoos shall be returned to their owner or keeper.
5. Dogs without tattoos and those impounded according to Article 4, Comma 1, shall be tatooed. Dogs not claimed within 60 days may be adopted by private citizens who offer guarantee of good treatment or by humane societies. Prior to adoption, dogs must be vaccinated against rabies, echinoccosis, and other infectious diseases.
6. With the sole exceptions indicated by Articles, 86, 87, and 91 of the Veterinarian Police Regulation approved by Presidential Decree 320 of February 8, 1954, and its subsequent modifications, dogs impounded according to Article 4, Comma 1, can be euthanized according to humane procedures only on the condition they are seriously ill, incurably ill, or of proven danger.
7. It is forbidden to mistreat feral cats.
8. Feral cats shall be sterilized by the public health service whose jurisdiction extends over their territory, after which they shall be returned to the territory.
9. It is forbidden to euthanize feral cats unless they are seriously or incurably ill.
10. The animal welfare organizations and humane societies may, in conjunction with the public health service, take responsibility for feral cat colonies, ensuring the animals’ health and wellbeing.
11. The animal welfare organizations and humane societies may take responsibility for managing the pounds described under Article 4, Comma 1, under the supervision of the public health service veterinarians.
12. The pounds in Article 4, Comma 1, are entitled to board privately owned dogs for a fee and to provide emergency health care.

1. Within six months from the date this law goes into effect, the Regions shall legislate the opening of a Dog Registry to be run by the municipalities or the public health service. The regional law shall illustrate the procedures for registering and painlessly tatooing dogs.
2. Within six months from the date this law goes into effect, the Regions shall set up criteria for improving public pounds and for building new housing for dogs. Housing shall be such as to ensure good living conditions for the dogs in keeping with the health laws and shall be subjected to periodic checks by the public health service veterinarians. The regional laws shall also determine the criteria and implementation of the activities for which the Region is responsible.
3. Within six months from the date this law goes into effect, the Regions, in conjunction with regional animal welfare organizations, humane societies, and hunting associations, shall set up a stray prevention program.
4. The stray prevention program (Comma 3) entails the following:
1. initiatives aimed at informing the public, including public schools, to foster in people a proper relationship entailing respect for animal life and the defense of animal habitats.
2. training courses for employees of the regional and municipal governments and the public health service who are involved in the services herein described, as well as for volunteer investigators who work with the health service and city governments.
5. The Regions shall pay compensation to farmers for any animals killed by stray or wild dogs; release of payment requires certification by the public health veterinary service.
6. To finance initiatives, the Regions may allot a sum not exceeding 25 percent of the funds assigned to them by Article 8, Comma 2 of the Ministerial Decree. The balance shall be assigned by the Region to the municipalities as a contribution for their own initiatives.
7. The special-decree regions and the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano shall conform to the principles of this law and set up their own regional programs for the prevention of strays in keeping with the criteria set forth therein.

1. Municipalities, individually or jointly, and the Mountain Communities shall renovate all existing dog pounds and build new ones in keeping with the criteria of the regional law and the funding assigned by the Region.
2. Public health service employees and veterinarians shall care for the animals according to the provisions of Article 2.

1. Any person who abandons a dog, cat, or any other companion animal, shall be fined between 300,000 and 1 million lire.
2. Any person who fails to register his/her own dog according to Article 3, Comma 1, shall be fined 150,000 lire.
3. Any person who has registered his/her dog according to Article 3, Comma 1, but who has neglected to have the dog tatooed shall be fined 100,000 lire.
4. Any person who sells a dog or cat for experimentation, in violation of the existing laws, shall be fined between five and ten million lire.
5. The fine for violating Comma 1 of Article 727 of the Penal Code is hereby raised from a minimum of 500,000 lire to a maximum of 3 million lire.
6. The fines levied for violating Commas 1-4 shall be added to the funding for the enactment of this law, as set forth in Article 8.

(OMISSIS)

1. Articles 130-135 of Law 1175 of September 14, 1931 regarding public financing are repealed.
2. The repeal includes all subsequent modifications and all conflicts with this law.

Dated August 14, 1991 and signed by the President of Italy, Francesco Cossiga, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giulio Andreotti.

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