ROME—Thirteen pit bull-type dogs from an illegal dogfighting and underground betting ring — including four puppies and a pregnant female — were recently seized in Gela, Sicily, as part of an operation conducted by the Italian State Police, the CITES units of the Carabinieri in Rome and Palermo and the Agrigento Nature Anti-Crime Unit. The seizure was originally triggered when local citizens alerted police to a man seen with a small dog who had been reported missing. On searching the man’s home, officers found a dog with muzzle and body injuries consistent with dogfighting wounds and subsequently rescued 13 pit bull-type dogs who were placed in the care of veterinarians from the Provincial Health Authority of Palermo.
Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International) and Fondazione Cave Canem, the organizations behind the “Io non combatto” project, stress that dogfighting remains widespread across Italy but that reports of suspicious activity from members of the public can be essential to preventing and combating crimes against animals. The groups have developed a Citizens’ Guide to help people identify signs of dogfighting activities including the presence of multiple dogs being kept outside on chains, sometimes padlocked; dogs with visible fighting wounds to the snout and front legs and the presence of training and conditioning paraphernalia such as treadmills, discarded antibiotic and steroid packaging. Items seized in the Sicily case include treadmills, chains, leashes with snap hooks, weights used to strengthen dogs’ jaws, and pharmaceutical products, supplements and anabolic steroids.
Martina Pluda, country director at Humane World for Animals Italy, says: “Based on the available information, this case appears to exhibit the classic hallmarks of a serious underground dogfighting ring, patterns that have been extensively documented by experts with the ‘Io non combatto’ project: the use of molosser-type dogs, doping, training with specialised equipment, the promotion, filming and dissemination of events and the involvement of minors and gambling. In situations like these, reports from members of the public are essential to prevent and combat crimes against animals. Our Citizens’ Guide has been developed to help people identify signs indicating dogfighting activities, also drawing on knowledge shared by Humane World for Animals’ Animal Rescue Team, which has taken part in multiple rescue operations in the United States over many years, where this cruel practice is particularly widespread.”
Those involved in organizing the fights promoted the matches by sharing videos on social media, some of them extremely graphic. The fights were clearly organized for profit, as bets of varying amounts were placed on the outcome, with the sums agreed upon before the match through the formal signing of what was described as a “private contract” between the parties.
Salvatore Vella, Gela’s chief prosecutor, told Italian broadcaster TG1 that “minors often attended these matches” and that “this is an element that should not be underestimated, as it amounts to a form of training in criminal deviance.”
Federica Faiella, president of Fondazione Cave Canem, stated: “Dogfighting is often linked to other crimes, including illegal gambling and drug or arms trafficking. The Italian Criminal Code punishes anyone who organizes or promotes dogfighting and provides for increased penalties when such activities are carried out in conjunction with minors or promoted through video recordings of the fights. The presence of minors or young adults is particularly alarming, as involvement in these activities can amount to an initiation into a criminal career. Through the ‘Io non combatto’ project, we instead encourage younger generations to develop empathy and respect for others. The interactive workshops we deliver in schools are a vital tool for preventing youth delinquency and fostering a society that is more respectful of both animals and peers. As the new school year begins, we have developed free educational materials to help teachers and parents address the issue of dogfighting in their classrooms and families.”
The 13 rescued dogs have been temporarily placed in suitable facilities made available by the Gela municipal administration. “We hope that the Prosecutor’s Office will take the opportunity to permanently entrust the animals to these or other organizations with specialized dog trainers, as provided for under the legislative changes introduced by Law 82/2025, inspired by ‘Io non combatto’. We also hope that the dogs can begin a behavioral rehabilitation program as soon as possible, including through funds allocated under an amendment to the 2026 Budget Law, introduced with the support of Humane World for Animals Italy and Fondazione Cave Canem. Our organizations stand ready to cooperate with the authorities involved,” Pluda and Faiella conclude.
Through the “Io non combatto” project, Humane World for Animals Italy and Fondazione Cave Canem have been working together for over 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 an educational brochure for schools.
