Italy sharpens animal welfare laws: harder punishments for cruelty to animals!

Italy sharpens animal welfare laws: harder punishments for cruelty to animals!

Rom, Italien - Italy has massively tightened its laws to combat cruelty to animals. In a recent law in parliament in Rome, the penalties for cruelty to animals have now been significantly increased. This reform comes due to acute social demands for better protective measures for animals that are increasingly recognized as a feelings.

The new measures provide for a prison sentence of up to two years for cruelty to animals. With intentionally cruelty, the prison sentence can even increase up to four years. In addition, the fines were raised significantly: from 10,000 euros to up to 60,000 euros so far. For suspension or the wrong attitude of animals, causers must expect fines between 1,000 and 10,000 euros. Organizers of illegal animal fighting threatens doubles in the future.

The new regulations in detail

A central element of the new law is the drastic punishment of the reasonless killing of pets. Up to four years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 60,000 euros can be imposed. New upper limits also apply to all forms of cruelty to animals, which result in stricter measures for the organizers and participants of illegal animal fights.

The initiator of the law, Michela Brambilla, a prominent animal rights activist and MP of the NOI Moderati party, emphasizes that pets are no longer treated as mere property through this legislation, but as a feelings. Despite these progress, animal welfare organizations and representatives of the opposition criticize the law, which is considered a "missed opportunity". Claims for higher penalties and more extensive measures to protect wild and farm animals remain.

criticism and challenges

Despite the tightened punishments, there is criticism of the double standards in terms of animal welfare in Italy. Around 80 percent of the animals are affected by the new regulations, but practices such as castrating or genetic manipulation remain permitted. There are also special regulations for historical-cultural events and zoos that could undermine many of the improvements in the law.

Senator Julia Unterberger said that the law is insufficient in its current form in order to achieve a real improvement in animal welfare. The social debates on ethics and responsibility in dealing with animals are therefore still of great importance for Italy and its future legislation.

For further details on the changes in the Animal Welfare Act, take a look at the reporting of Derwesten.de and rnd.de .