Morsi, abandonments, aggressions: Lombardy offers a “dangerous” dog license, but experts warn that the risk does not depend only on the breed.
On June 24, the Lombardy Region approved a bill for Parliament entitled Specific rules for some types of dogs to protect their well -being and public safety.
According to the provisions of article 121 of the Constitution, if Parliament decides to approve it will become a national law that must be respected by all owners.
The most significant aspect of this proposal is the introduction of a mandatory license For owners of dogs belonging to 26 breeds considered potentially dangerous, including the pit bull, the German shepherd, the Belgian pastor Malinois and the Abruzzo Maremma shepherd.
To obtain it, a theoretical course of about 10 hoursone practical of about six hours and a final exam.
They would be excluded from the obligation The owners of dogs considered docile such as labrador, beagle or poodle, and crossroads that do not derive from breeds considered dangerous, in addition to dog sitters and owners of dogs for assistance.
Safety emergency, kennels and bad coexistence
Although this bill may appear as an interference in the life of citizens, it is motivated by sacrosanct reasons. First of all, there is a public security problem.
In addition to the recent episodes of fatal attacks on children, just say that in the Lombardy region there are about Four episodes of biting per dayfor a total of 1,466 cases in 2024.
This is a data included in the documentation of the bill but which would derive from the reports of the local social-health companies.
In addition, abandonments in kennels are visibly increasing.
In August 2024, Legambiente wrote in his XIII report Animals in the city that the previous year has happened well 85 thousand timesincreasing almost the 9 percent compared to 2022.
The lower the estimate of the ENPA, according to which in a year they are on average 50 thousand the abandoned beasts. Even like that, it would mean that every day in Italy 137 dogs end up in a cagean already enormous number since those left on the street are not part of the count.
Finally, in the face of a constant increase in petswith Ben 23 million Italians who have at least one dog or cat e 197 new stores for pets open in only 2023a problem emerged Conscious and responsible owner-cane interaction.
Uncomplete excrements, continuous barking in condominiums, bumps against passers -by, dogs without a leash in playgrounds: Bad management is increasingly evident, aggravated by the poor supervision of the local police.
In this sense, the bill is based on a correct principle: it is more effective form, educate and empower The owners who impose prohibitions and punishments.
What happens in Europe
On the other hand, other European countries have come to similar conclusions.
The license is mandatory For certain breeds in some German Ländera Viennain Norway, France, Spain and Portugal.
Other countries have more severe approaches: in Swedenan aggression can lead todog euthanasia; in Finlandat the Loss of property of the animal.
They are an exception The United Kingdom and the Swiss (except for a couple of cantons), where the license was abolished respectively in 1987 and 2017.
Because limiting it to 26 breeds is a mistake
Instead, what does not convince in the law proposal of the Lombardy Region is to limit the obligation to the owners of only 26 races.
There are scientific and common sense reasons To believe that the license would go extended to everyone.
Lorenzo Tiduveterinarian and ethologist, former trainer of the dog instructors of the Military Center of Grosseto and collaborator of the protocol of anti -ina dogs of the Italian army, explains:
“The fact that some breeds have been selected for specific apparently harmless purposes, for example those of beauty or work, absolutely does not guarantee that the selection has not also produced genes linked, for example, to hyperexcitability”.
Concrete examples?
- THE’Australian Working Kelpie selected for pain resistance can today show hyperexcitability And anxious aggression.
- The German shepherd from beauty, often hit by hip dysplasiacan react with aggression from pain to manipulation.
Experiences count, not only the DNA
Another important point is that the bad management of the owners can have heavy consequencesfrom the suffering of the animal to abandonment, to aggression.
Tidu adds:
«In the sensitive phase of socialization, called imprintingwhich goes from the 21st to the 120th day of life, the puppy stores fundamental experiences. If he knows no different human figures, different races or new environments, as an adult he can develop fears or phobias that lead to aggressive behavior ».
Educate the owners, do not condemn dogs
These are just some examples. But the point is clear: to manage a dog, whatever its breed, is a complex matter.
Especially in citiesserves training, respect and responsibility. Quality that they do not measure themselves with the race of the dogbut with the awareness of his master.
Who knows if for those it will really be enough a license.
