ROME—Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International) and Fondazione Cave Canem, the organizations promoting the “Io non combatto” project, welcome the approval of amendment 42.0.23 to the 2026 Italian budget law, which provides for the allocation of dedicated funds to suppress animal fighting.
The amendment, tabled by Senator Anna Bilotti (M5S), allocates one million euros per year for each of the years 2026 and 2027 to cover the custody costs arising from the seizure and confiscation of animals used in fighting, entrusted to facilities—managed or supported by third-sector organisations—that specialise in behavioural rehabilitation. However, the amendment does not provide additional funding for the specialist training of Carabinieri personnel involved in the suppression of these criminal activities, as had been proposed in the original version of the amendment.
Through the “Io non combatto” project, Humane World for Animals Italy and Fondazione Cave Canem have been working together for years to prevent and counter dogfighting by providing training courses and scholarships for law enforcement personnel and other professionals, implementing rehabilitation programs for the dogs involved and organizing conferences, webinars, and public information and awareness-raising campaigns.
Martina Pluda, country director of Humane World for Animals Italy, and Federica Faiella, president of Fondazione Cave Canem, commented: “We welcome the approval of Senator Bilotti’s amendment, which provides concrete resources for the behavioral rehabilitation of animals used in fighting—a criminal phenomenon that remains widespread and is rooted in the normalization of violence. Support of this kind is essential to sustain facilities capable of taking in these animals, working with them alongside specialized professionals, and ensuring they have a real chance at recovery. At present, this burden falls disproportionately on third-sector organizations and civil society, especially in light of the frequent difficulties faced by the judiciary in covering custody-related costs. Unfortunately, the version of the amendment that was approved did not make it possible to include funding for the training of law enforcement agencies engaged in combating this crime, as originally provided for in the text put forward by Senator Bilotti and proposed by Humane World for Animals and Fondazione Cave Canem. Based on the experience gained on the ground through the ‘Io non combatto’ project, we believe that dedicated and up-to-date skills can make prevention and enforcement efforts more effective and systematic; although specialised training did not receive public funding at this stage, we consider it a priority area for improvement and a concrete objective for the coming year.”
