Desenzano Implements New Dog Leash and Muzzle Ordinance Amid Controversy

Are large breed dogs dangerous? Are they dangerous enough to be required, when accompanied by their owner while walking in squares or streets, to wear both a leash and a muzzle? The mayor Felice Anelli’s ordinance, though perhaps belated, has sparked a wave of controversy. This ordinance fits into a long series of restrictive measures previously adopted by the Municipality against dog owners. The decisions date back to when architect Piergiuseppe Ramella was mayor; they caused a stir and protests in the town square from dog owners. Even back then, discussions centered around distinguishing between small and large dogs, a curfew, and walks allowed only in the evening and at night. Everything was later rescinded. Today, the rekindling of old protests has been triggered by a measure signed at the end of June of last year by the mayor, which had gone completely unnoticed. Its enforcement or lack thereof over the past few weeks—depending on one’s perspective—has sparked protests throughout the city. On one side are dog owners, who, after being fined, claimed they were unaware of the ordinance, alleging it was not adequately publicized. On the other side are citizens walking through Desenzano’s center, often encountering large dogs without muzzles. To clarify the situation, Rino Polloni, the leader of Lega Nord, recently asked the mayor to install appropriate signs informing residents, visitors, and tourists about the ordinance, so it can be strictly enforced. However, dog owners are not convinced. They particularly contest the language used to address the issue. “How do you distinguish a large dog?” asks a owner of a German Shepherd, “and which breeds are identified as particularly aggressive? And why this double requirement to keep the dog on a leash and also muzzled?” These are questions the ordinance, for now, does not answer. The measure refers to the need to amend existing regulations to prevent danger to public safety, as well as to ensure greater hygiene. Therefore, the mayor, when signing the ordinance, orders that dogs are not allowed to roam freely in streets, gardens, or public or open-to-the-public spaces without a muzzle. This regulation is absolutely correct. The ordinance continues that large dogs and breeds identified as particularly aggressive must always be kept on a leash by people capable of effectively controlling them. When entering areas heavily frequented by the public—such as markets, events, squares, and streets in the historic center—the animals must be both leashed and muzzled. “I agree with the mandatory use of the leash,” says Diana Lanciotti, a resident of Desenzano and founder of the Fondo Amici di Paco, a national association that fights against dog abandonment and stray dogs.
– The leash – is a safeguard for the dog. I do not agree with the obligation to muzzle because it causes suffering to the dog. Who will decide which dogs are aggressive? In my opinion, only the owner knows their dog’s temperament, which can be small but extremely aggressive.”