In Italy there are more than 200,000 dogs confined in shelters. This phenomenon, as well as causing suffering to the animals, represents a significant cost to the country: for every dog held in a shelter, the municipality responsible spends between three hundred and one thousand euros a year. To reduce these costs and tackle the problem, an increasing number of Italian municipalities are adopting various initiatives to encourage adoptions.

In Perugia, for example, the "Adotta un nonno" project was launched last year. The initiative provides for an economic incentive: anyone who adopts a dog of at least six years of age will be entitled to free veterinary care from Enpa for the rest of the animal's life. The municipality of Bisceglie, meanwhile, decided last March to discount local taxes by up to 70 per cent for anyone who adopts a dog from a shelter.

The latest initiative comes from Agira, a small Sicilian municipality in the province of Enna. The town council, chaired by mayor Maria Greco, unanimously approved a measure providing for a contribution for anyone who decides to adopt a stray dog caught within the municipal territory.

Under the measure, which has been in effect since 6 April, the municipality will refund adopters an amount equal to what citizens have paid in Tari tax. Three different levels of reimbursement are envisaged depending on the size of the adopted animal; the amounts may not exceed 400 euros for small dogs, 450 euros for medium-sized dogs, and 500 euros for large dogs.

The municipality requires only a few prerequisites: applicants must be of legal age, holders of a Tari tax obligation, and have no criminal record for animal cruelty offences. "We hope this initiative will be successful; the aim is to improve animal welfare and to limit the costs of stray dog management borne by the community," declared mayor Maria Greco.

A number of safeguards have also been devised to prevent dogs from being adopted purely out of self-interest: the future owner will be required to register the animal on the canine register, and the dog will become their property in every legal respect; they will also be required, as set out in the municipal measure, to ensure all vaccinations required by law are carried out. The actual welfare of the animal will subsequently be verified by staff from the local Asl, who will carry out periodic checks.