ROME—Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly Humane Society International) and Fondazione Cave Canem have launched new educational materials that bring the issue of dogfighting into Italian classrooms. Developed through the “Io non combatto” or “I don’t fight” project, the resources equip schools to teach young people about animal protection, empathy and the rule of law.
The free package gives secondary school teachers a comprehensive guide and video tutorial for leading classroom workshops on dogfighting and animal welfare, tailored for civic education programs.
Developed with a psychologist specializing in child and adolescent development, the resources were previewed for readers of the Italian science magazine Focus Junior through the “Focus Scuola” and “Focus Junior” newsletters. They are now publicly available on the project website.
The guide provides teachers (and interested parents) with:
- A five-step structured program
- A brochure to distribute to students
- Prompts for guided discussions
- Links to videos of dogs rescued as part of the project
- Hands-on poster-making activities that encourage group reflection
Martina Pluda, country director at Humane World for Animals Italy, says: “Dogfighting remains a widespread criminal practice throughout Italy, as demonstrated by the recent seizure of 13 pit bull-type dogs in Sicily, who were forced to fight in front of minors. The Italian Criminal Code provides for increased penalties when minors are involved as witnessing these gruesome spectacles can traumatize children and lead them to become desensitized to violence, fostering a culture of domination that may encourage deviant behavior.”
Federica Faiella, president of Fondazione Cave Canem, adds: “Through the ‘Io non combatto’ project, we encourage the younger generations to develop empathy and respect for others. The interactive workshops we have conducted in schools and are now making available to teachers are an essential tool for preventing youth deviance and building a society that is more respectful of others, both animals and peers. This school year, teachers and parents can use our new free materials to help young people understand the issue of dogfighting in the classroom and at home.”
Dr. Roberta Costagliola, a psychologist specializing in child and adolescent development, comments: “Through stories based on real-life cases involving animals, students are encouraged to listen to their own emotions and become active participants in a process of reflection. The aim is not to cause distress, but to teach young people to recognize and express their emotional experiences and guide them in understanding the consequences of human cruelty, encouraging them to reflect both on the responsibility of those who commit such acts and on the suffering that dogs carry with them. In this way, respect for animals becomes an opportunity to educate young people about respect for others and the values of living together in society.”
Through the “Io non combatto” project, Humane World for Animals Italy and Fondazione Cave Canem have been working together for more than five 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. The resources made available to the public include an analysis of dogfighting cases in Italy, an information guide for citizens and educational materials for schools.