There are many initiatives by animal rights associations concerning animal rights. And all of them are extremely valid. Here are the most significant and important ones.
In the increasingly complex landscape of animal rights, every day there is a piece – for better or worse – to add and comment on. More than ever in recent times, animal rights associations have been busy confronting the assaults, problems and legislative inconsistencies that a society, "on the side of animals" in words only, expresses towards the environment around us and its inhabitants. We therefore decided to draw up a list of the most incisive and important actions taken in recent months concerning our four-legged friends – actions that need to be supported and highlighted with a view to building a better relationship with the world around us. And with those who share planet Earth with us.
That bears are a resilient species has long been known. But what has been happening in Trentino in recent years cannot be silenced or forgotten, and it certainly shows how human relentlessness is, little by little, undermining a species that has been part of the ecosystem since time immemorial. We have already addressed in several articles the sad situation of the bears held at Casteller. And this is not the place to revisit the story of bear JJ4, held responsible for the attack on runner Andrea Papi. It is important at this point, however, to understand what animal rights associations are doing to protect and safeguard the bears of Trentino. Oipa – Organizzazione internazionale protezione animali – sums up the situation in a statement by Valentina Bagnato, head of international relations: "In recent days we obtained guidance on the procedure to follow for the possible transfer of bear JJ4. It is a meticulous process, attentive to the health and wellbeing of the animal, of which we have informed the Ministry, guaranteeing safety in transport, veterinary monitoring and the management of the individual. Naturally, our association would prefer a new release into the wild, but if that proves impossible, this appears to be one of the solutions worth considering. Oipa could also launch a fundraising campaign to cover at least part of the costs of the operation."
Meanwhile, the association's legal office has filed with the Procura della Repubblica di Trento the criminal complaint against persons unknown for the killing of an animal, announced after the discovery of the body of bear M62 between Lago di Molveno and San Lorenzo Dorsino. The death of a young specimen could constitute the offence of "killing of an animal" under art. 544 bis of the Criminal Code. Moreover, on 10 May came a troubling statement from Trentino councillor Ivano Job who, during the debate on the resolutions linked to the communication on bear management by regional president Maurizio Fugatti, declared that if "there is no common-sense response putting people first and animals second, the people of Trentino will not stand for it any longer." Let us not forget that M49, also known as "Papillon" for his escape attempts, has been locked up in Casteller for years, and MJ5 risks ending up there too, if captured. The latter, like JJ4, is subject to the culling orders issued by the president of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti. In short, the persecution of Trentino's bears does not appear set to end any time soon. But animal rights associations are reacting forcefully, and one can only hope that the wave of outrage over what is happening will change the course of events – for the benefit of the bears, but also for the health of our ecosystem.
They are fashionable. Very much so. We are talking about brachycephalic dogs and cats – those with an almost non-existent muzzle, large bulging eyes and tiny ears. Creatures that fall completely outside the morphological standards of their species, destined for a life of illness and physical problems that often condemn them to an early death. On the subject of brachycephalic animals, it is worth highlighting the campaign by Sara Turetta and Save the Dogs, the association she chairs. "English and French bulldogs, pugs, but also Persian cats or Scottish folds are among the breeds favoured by VIPs and influencers such as Chiara Ferragni and Federica Pellegrini. Profiles with millions of followers that inevitably make these animals extremely fashionable, triggering copycat behaviour. The latest to show off his pet is Gianni Morandi, who recently had himself photographed on Instagram with a British shorthair kitten, sending his fans into a frenzy. But what do all these animals have in common? They belong to the category of brachycephalics, meaning those breeds in which the muzzle is flattened and the skull round – somatic characteristics that are the result of genetic selection with a single purpose: to meet aesthetic standards that appeal to people and therefore boost sales."
The animal rights association's statement is echoed by Ermanno Giudici, blogger and writer: "It is precisely the brachycephalic breeds, selected to resemble eternal puppies with human-like features, that according to vets around the world have the greatest difficulty leading a normal life. The existence of many of these animals is wretched, and veterinary professionals are the first to witness this, because thousands of four-legged animals of this type need significant medical care simply to survive – and in some cases even plastic surgery in order to breathe." And there is more. The media exposure of brachycephalic breeds has fuelled the growth of completely unregulated backyard breeding operations, which feed the illegal trafficking of puppies arriving from Eastern European countries, in order to meet a growing demand that seems to take no account of animal rights or the ways to preserve the health and wellbeing of these animals.
We at LifeGate have also paid close attention to these issues and, for the sake of brevity, we refer you to the articles where more information on the subject can be found.
There are debilitating and often fatal diseases that continue to afflict our four-legged friends. And much still needs to be done to prevent and treat them. Such is the case with leishmaniasis, an insidious and frequently fatal condition if not kept under control. For the prevention and treatment of this disease, however, there are praiseworthy and effective initiatives worth highlighting. One such initiative is that of the Cave Canem foundation, which saw more than 450 dogs housed at the Valle Grande shelter in Rome undergo tests for canine leishmaniasis in collaboration with C.Re.Na.L. (the National Reference Centre for Leishmaniasis in Palermo), a national centre of excellence in the field. Alongside them was the staff of the Roman rescue shelter, which in 2022 alone facilitated the adoption of 315 dogs. Carrying out the analyses, alongside veterinary doctors and technicians, were also representatives of the foundation's team of dog training educators, coordinated by dog trainer manager Mirko Zuccari, who helped manage the four-legged patients during sample collection in the kennels and in the newly set-up examination room.
The tests will be analysed by the C.Re.Na.L. professionals coordinated by Dr Fabrizio Vitale, and the results will be added to the individual records of each dog. For those that test positive for leishmaniasis, treatment will be started immediately. For all others, prevention protocols will be stepped up. A scientific study will finally be carried out at the conclusion of this initiative to demonstrate how prevention and treatment can ensure healthy, fully thriving dogs even in shelters, thereby encouraging their adoption.
This is not the first time the Cave Canem foundation has addressed the issue: back in 2020, a similar initiative was promoted at the Modena intermunicipal shelter and at the Magreta intermunicipal shelter. But the large-scale Valle Grande operation sets a significant precedent in the field of protecting the right of shelter dogs to veterinary care, and allows the idea to be advanced that even those forced to live in a kennel deserve to benefit from high-quality care services.
The issue of aggressive, snappy and uncontrollable dogs is felt keenly not only by private individuals who, on many occasions, find themselves facing the problem without being able to find effective help, but also and above all by animal rights associations that work on animal rights and the rehabilitation of such animals. The Cave Canem foundation has long been active in the sector, training specialist dog training educators specifically in this field and promoting dedicated courses to support families that have taken in problem dogs from shelters.
Thanks to intensive hands-on training with dogs displaying a significant range of stereotypies and notable behavioural disorders, and guided by instructors who will equip participants with the tools to work as dog training educators in shelters and rescue centres, it is possible to complete one's training and offer support not only to family units, but also to become technical consultants to law enforcement or institutions, without overlooking a further objective: carrying out voluntary work to the best of one's ability.
The training offering, which is cross-cutting and highly professionalising, ranges from the behavioural assessment of the dog through to the conclusion of the rehabilitation pathway, taking in the definition of an intervention plan to ensure both a peaceful stay within the shelter and the preservation of a balanced family environment. Through a comprehensive and structured programme, participants will acquire new techniques to identify the distinguishing traits of stereotypies and behavioural difficulties stemming from poor management or even from situations of mistreatment and incompatible living conditions.
For information on the specialisation courses, please refer to the following links:
https://fondazionecavecanem.org/prodotto/corso-di-specializzazione-in-recupero-comportamentale/ – [email protected]