Animals as companions and as substitutes for the affection and social contact denied during the Covid-19 era. A trend that has developed in recent times and is making itself felt in terms of pet-related consumer spending and services. The ninth edition of Animali in città, Legambiente's survey on the services offered by municipal authorities and health authorities for the management of companion animals, and on the quality of our coexistence in cities with wild and domestic animals alike, attempts to take stock of the situation and of the impact on Italian households. Because while, on the one hand, the presence of dogs and cats in homes has increased, on the other, there is growing economic hardship that is also being felt in how people manage their pets.

Animals in Italy

Legambiente's survey reveals that 69.5 per cent of Italian municipalities report having a desk (an office or a service) dedicated to animal rights in the city. In theory, then, more than two thirds of municipalities should be in a position to give citizens good answers to their questions about their four-legged companions. The reality, however, is different. Only one in seven (15.7 per cent) of the municipal areas examined achieves a sufficient performance, and only Prato, Modena and Bergamo exceed the score needed to reach an excellent rating.

"We are preparing to face a post-pandemic economic and social crisis that risks having repercussions on the millions of companion animals living in our homes and filling vitally important relational spaces. Without concrete support, there is a risk of painful choices and a rise in abandonments. Preventing and accompanying these difficulties, through widespread public and private initiatives, will be essential to guarantee the wellbeing of both people and animals," says Giorgio Zampetti, director general of Legambiente. This concern is underscored by the figures provided by health authorities, which report 226 rescue kennels in operation with 36,766 available places. Unfortunately, however, as of 31 December 2019, 92,371 dogs were being housed in these facilities — fully 2.5 times the actual capacity of the kennels.

Conversely, total expenditure on the management of animals in cities amounts to 228,682,640 euros in 2019 (an increase of 3.6 per cent compared with the previous year). Municipalities report having spent 156,857,113 euros under this heading, to which must be added the 71,825,527 euros spent by health authorities. The total sum is substantial when set against other items of Italian public spending: it is equal to 2.7 times the amount allocated to all 24 national parks in the country, and 62 times the amount allocated to all 27 marine areas.

Only 14 per cent of the municipalities that responded are in contact with a wildlife rescue centre to which they can refer anyone who finds an injured bird, and the percentage drops to 9 per cent for a mammal, to 2 per cent for a marine animal or a reptile, and falls to 1 per cent for an exotic specimen. Moreover, only 8.7 per cent of health authorities report having access to data on animals admitted to rescue centres. These are figures that raise a number of questions about the situation in our country, and it is likely that Legambiente's next report, which will cover 2020, will help to shed greater light on the outlook and possible solutions.

Dogs, cats and household expenses

From the spring of last year, many new animals entered Italian homes. In 2020, the desire to have a pet by one's side — preferably a four-legged one, whether purchased or adopted — grew exponentially. In Italy, 3.5 million people bought a pet during or immediately after the restrictions introduced by the government in the course of the spring.

On the adoptions front too, still in 2020, a significant increase of 15 per cent was recorded (data from Enpa), with as many as 8,100 dogs and 9,500 cats finding homes, for a total of 17,600 pets adopted. During the Covid-19 emergency, Italians used e-commerce services by more than 80 per cent more (data from Nielsen) than in the preceding period — not only to shop for groceries online and order essential goods, but also to buy food and products for their four-legged companions.

And, on that very note, Quattrozampeinfiera arrives — the "pet-friendly" event that stops off in four Italian cities. It begins in Bologna (19 and 20 June), followed by Naples (18 and 19 September), Milan (2 and 3 October) and Vicenza (20 and 21 November). At every stop, visitors accompanied by their pets will be able to test and purchase products and services, and explore a vast range of activities: from sports to mental stimulation games, from moments shared with friends to parades with their dog. And for those who are thinking of welcoming a dog or cat into their family, it will be possible to engage with the many associations and pedigree breeders attending the event to find out more about the new companion that will be joining the family.