ROME—Combating animal fighting is the objective of amendment 42.0.23 to the Italian 2026 budget law, introduced by Senator Anna Bilotti (M5S) and supported by the two animal protection organisations Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International) and Fondazione Cave Canem.
The proposed amendment has been included among the signalled amendments, meaning those that will be given priority during examination. It provides for an allocation of one million euros, starting in 2026, to cover the custody costs arising from the seizure and confiscation of animals used in fighting, as well as animals with behavioural issues entrusted to facilities—managed or supported by third-sector organisations—that specialise in behavioural rehabilitation.
It also provides for an allocation of one million euros to fund specialist technical and practical training for the personnel of the Italian Carabinieri’s Command of Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units, in support of activities needed to repress the criminal act of animal fighting, which is often linked to the use of doping substances and to illegal betting.
Senator Anna Bilotti states: “Animal fighting is a crime of unacceptable cruelty, often linked to illegal betting and illicit trafficking. With this amendment, we allocate long-term resources both to the specialised training of the Carabinieri and to the secure custody and behavioural rehabilitation of the animals seized, offering them safety and a real chance at a new life. I would like to thank the organisations that have been working on this issue for years—particularly Fondazione Cave Canem and Humane World for Animals Italy—for the ‘Io non combatto’ project, for their expertise, and for having developed an effective model of prevention, training and rehabilitation, as well as for supporting our proposed amendment. I would also like to thank the President of the M5S Group in the Senate, Stefano Patuanelli, for his support and for drawing attention to the amendment, which made it possible to bring it before the Chamber.”
Humane World for Animals Italy and Fondazione Cave Canem, promoters of the “Io non combatto” project, are calling on the Italian Parliament to ensure the amendment’s approval, marking an important step forward in the fight against animal fighting and, specifically, dogfighting. The two organisations have been working together for years to prevent and counter these criminal activities through training courses and scholarships for law enforcement personnel and others, the implementation of rehabilitation strategies for the dogs involved, along with conferences, webinars, and public information and awareness campaigns.
Martina Pluda, country director at Humane World for Animals Italy, says: “I believe it is essential to invest in the training of law enforcement in order to curb this criminal act, which is still far too common in Italy and, as we well know, linked to other illicit activities such as drug trafficking, weapons, and child pornography. For years, the ‘Io non combatto’ project has organised training sessions and produced educational materials to equip and strengthen the network of professionals working to combat animal fighting, but it is clear that a Government intervention of this kind would allow for greater reach and send a clear message. This is an important opportunity that I hope the Government will seize, and we thank Senator Bilotti for her commitment and sensitivity towards standards of law and animal welfare.”
Federica Faiella, president of Fondazione Cave Canem, adds: “Ensuring economic sustainability for third-sector organisations to safely host seized animals is a crucial step in protecting the victims of these cruelties. Offering them safe shelter, a path to behavioural rehabilitation, and the chance for a new life in a family means breaking the cycle of violence that affected them, while also supporting the legal costs associated with judicial proceedings. The approval of this amendment would give a decisive boost to the work we have been carrying out for six years through the ‘Io non combatto’ project. I join in thanking Senator Bilotti for the attention she has given to this issue and for the awareness she has shown regarding the need to intervene in a criminal network that, in addition to causing animal suffering, often involves minors and young adults, exposing them to a real risk of entry into a criminal path.”
The approval of amendment 42.0.23 would represent a concrete signal of the Italian Parliament’s commitment to animal protection and would give Italy the opportunity to position itself as a genuine leader in Europe in the fight against a criminal act that remains far too widespread—a milestone that would strengthen cooperation between institutions and the nonprofit sector, making the fight against crimes against animals more effective and coordinated, and facilitating the adoption of long-term strategies.
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