With the heat and the approach of the holiday season, the tragic roll call of abandoned animals begins again. According to the first data released by Aidaa, Associazione italiana difesa animali ed ambiente – there had already been 20,000 cases of abandonment since the start of 2017. According to Lav, Lega anti vivisezione, an average of 80,000 cats and 50,000 dogs are abandoned every year; 80 per cent of these animals risk dying.

But what can we, as conscientious citizens, do if we come across an animal in difficulty?

Abandoned animals: what to do if you find a dog or cat on the street

Here it is important to distinguish between stray dogs, perhaps local neighbourhood ones, and free-roaming cats on the one hand, and domestic animals kept indoors that have gone missing or, worse, that have been abandoned on the other. The former are recognisable because they are calm and accustomed to living outdoors; the latter, generally very clean and well-groomed, will appear frightened, nervous and disoriented. In this case it is advisable to contact the Polizia municipale of the relevant municipality and request an intervention (direct, from the veterinary health authority or from animal welfare volunteers). If the animal has got lost, it will be possible to return it to its owner via microchip.

Who is the neighbourhood dog

It is a neutered, vaccinated and microchipped stray that the neighbourhood or village has adopted. It is an animal that knows the area perfectly and lacks for neither food nor water nor attention.

If you happen to witness an animal involved in an accident

This is unfortunately the worst fate for abandoned domestic animals who, not knowing the dangers of the road, risk being run over by cars. By law, under the new Codice della strada, animals that have been run over must be assisted without fail, so if you are involved in or witness an accident in which animals are involved you can contact the emergency services (118), the Polizia Stradale, the Carabinieri (112), the Polizia di Stato (113), the Guardia di Finanza (117), or possibly also the Corpo Forestale (1515), and provide all the necessary information. All the more reason to contact the authorities if you saw the driver and they fled (though you would need to be quick enough to note down the number plate). You can also provide first aid to the animal, but in that case remember to call a vet or contact Enpa directly, who should come to the scene so that the animal's medical record becomes evidence of the offence.

If you are a direct witness of the abandonment or mistreatment

Film or photograph with your mobile phone, note down the car's number plate. Gather evidence to provide to the local police or Carabinieri; animal cruelty is a criminal offence and is punishable by imprisonment. It is therefore necessary to report the incident and provide all possible details. In this case too, you can send the report to Enpa, the Ente nazionale protezione animali, which can join the proceedings as a civil party.

Useful numbers

Carabinieri – 112
Polizia – 113
Emergency medical services – 118
Ente nazionale protezione animali – 06 32 42 873, head office. E-mail: [email protected]
Lega nazionale per la difesa del cane – 02 26 11 65 02