Fines up to €60,000 and jail time introduced to protect animals

The Senate has approved the bill: the proposal, originally submitted by NM MP Michela Vittoria Brambilla, is now law. Hefty fines and even prison sentences are now in place, with stricter rules to combat violence against animals in Italy.

Passed by a show of hands, the bill introduces new legal standards for human-animal relations, with a fundamental shift: animals are now legally recognised as subjects in their own right.

One of the key changes to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure is a shift in perspective: the aim is no longer to protect “human feelings towards animals”, but to directly safeguard the animals themselves. As was pointed out by numerous majority representatives during the session, animals are now placed “at the centre of legal protection, with their rights recognised independently of how we perceive them”.

Among the most notable provisions in the law is the toughening of penalties. Organisers of events or competitions involving violence against animals will now face increased fines—from €15,000 to €30,000. Those organising animal fights could face 2 to 4 years in prison, with fines of up to €30,000 for participants. Killing an animal could lead to 6 months to 4 years in prison, with fines reaching €60,000.

Prison sentences for cruelty

Harsher penalties also apply for mistreatment, with prison terms of up to 2 years—no longer substitutable with fines. The law also introduces a ban on the culling of animals involved in criminal cases; they must remain in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

There is now a total ban on the commercial use of domestic cat fur. Also, dogs may no longer be kept on chains anywhere in the country. Greater protections are also in place for endangered species: anyone caught killing, capturing or unlawfully possessing them faces arrest from 3 months to 1 year, along with fines of up to €8,000.

Caution is now advised for those wishing to keep exotic pets: any species prohibited in Italy are strictly off-limits. Finally, the law cracks down on illegal puppy trafficking, which is now punishable by 4 to 18 months’ imprisonment and fines ranging from €6,000 to €30,000.

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