New Legislation Mandates Microchips for Dogs and Emergency Shelters
Soon, all dogs, regardless of breed, will be fitted with an electronic recognition microchip. This will serve for the dog registry, which is mandatory for every municipality.
The New Legislation and Reactions
We discuss the main novelty of the new provincial law, already approved by the commission, which will soon move to the council. The anticipation, mixed with concern about the various innovations, is considerable among dog lovers.
The Arco branch of Ada, the Animal Defense Association, has become a spokesperson for the unrest spreading among the large field of dog enthusiasts. To reassure them, on the 26th, it invited the provincial assessor Berasi to the Casino, who will explain the various aspects of the upcoming legislation.
«Aside from a few minor adjustments, there should be no problems in the chamber for its approval,» comments Enrico Leoni, president of Ada, «since the text has already received the approval of the commission, controlled by the minority.»
Advantages and Critical Issues
If there are justified concerns, there are also positive aspects. These include the electronic registry and the imposition of dog shelters and rescue centers for abandoned dogs, which are almost everywhere in the high sea area. Microchips will fill the gap in the census, also for health purposes, of the significant dog population.
For the “count,” in the past, recognition tags existed, but these were issued by municipalities solely to extract money from owners through the hated dog tax. President Leoni recalls the obligation for municipal administrations to create, either independently or through consortiums, dog shelters and rescue centers.
Facilities and Management
Arco is at the forefront. It has the only C9 structure located in the former slaughterhouse on Via della Cinta. The work is ongoing for Ada, which manages it: over eighty dogs, bred from escapees, are hosted in the “hospital” awaiting return to their owners each year.
«The Arco dog shelter is adequate for the needs of the entire district, and we are willing to cover all the territory,» emphasizes Enrico Leoni. «Already a year and a half ago, we proposed an offer to the municipal assessor Rivano Andreozzi, who expressed interest.»
However, since then, we have yet to receive an answer. When the new law comes into effect, delays will no longer be possible. Instead, there is concern over the excessive increase in fines for those who let their dogs escape. In Arco, the fine is now 70,000 lire, but it will increase from 100,000 to 300,000 lire.
We fear that many people might respond by abandoning their “friend.” Another innovation? The introduction of volunteer animal control officers: they will identify cases of animal abuse and impose fines. Tough times ahead for the malicious.”
