Rome’s abandoned dogs swap shelter life for a red carpet parade to find forever families

Dogs across Rome recently swapped concrete kennel floors for a celebrity-style runway, captivating crowds of animal lovers in a bid to win over future owners.

Four legs, big personalities

On Sunday 4 October, Villa Pamphilj hosted a fashion show where nobody threw a hissy fit about their outfit. Twenty-seven dogs from Rome’s kennels took turns on a red carpet in front of a crowd, and a few of them may have left the park with someone new in mind.

This was the 13th “Il Canile va in Città” (The Kennel Goes to Town), held on the feast of St Francis, patron saint of animals. Dogs are taken out of the kennel for an afternoon so people can meet them properly, instead of scrolling past a photo or trying to get people to come into a shelter. The dogs came from the city kennels at Muratella and Ponte Marconi, and from partner shelters Valle Grande and Panda.

Six of the dogs were older or unwell dogs who tend to get overlooked. If you’ve ever pictured a quiet life with a calm sofa companion, they’re worth a look.

A host, a handler, and a famous resident

Actor and singer Andrea Rivera hosted, as he has before. The presenters included Fabio Bruni and Inspector Giovanni La Prova, who looks after Rex. Rex is a good argument for the whole event. After two years in a kennel box, he was adopted by the police station at Porta Maggiore. He now his own sheltered area there, and the officers cover his upkeep.

Does the event actually work

Rome’s animal welfare officer, Patrizia Prestipino, says it absolutely does. By her count, more than half of the dogs who have paraded over the years have found homes.  Free microchipping was on offer for the dogs present, and also as a first this year, a podcast, with interviews with the people involved and with members of the public.

Maybe the idea of bringing the dogs to the people is not a bad idea at all.