Stray Dogs: Municipalities That Pay If You Adopt a Dog

Stray Dog Municipalities That Pay If You Adopt A Dog

STRAY DOGS IN ITALY

How many are the stray dogs in ItalyWe don't even have a precise number on a phenomenon that continues to grow: the Ministry of Health hasn't provided updated data since 2015, and many local administrations are careful not to carry out censuses. A reliable estimate speaks of 700-900 thousand stray dogs, around all the Italian regions, while the cats would over 2 million. Indicative and approximate numbers, useful only to photograph a trend that doesn't seem to be slowing down. With a double waste that is driving Italian mayors crazy. On the one hand, the devastation to these poor abandoned animals, which could instead be adopted and made safe; on the other, the health concerns that affect the entire population, not just animal lovers. A double waste whose lit match has been left in the hands of mayors, with a incredible cut, at national level, of the funds to fight stray animals: Come on 5 million euros in 2007, we collapsed at the 300 thousand euros in 2017. Nothing.

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INCENTIVES FOR STRAY ADOPTION

To understand how far this outrage is being pushed, another factor must be added: the number of dogs in kennels is decreasing, as mayors tend to empty them. Rightly so, from their point of view, considering that a dog in a kennel costs the public administration approximately 1.200 euro a yearAnd municipal coffers in Italy are almost always empty. So, to sum up: fewer dogs cared for, and more stray dogs, with more risks for the populationCaught in this vice, mayors invent something new every day to contain the phenomenon.

The last one to take the field was Francis the Emperor, mayor of San Potito Sannitico, a municipality in the province of Caserta. Here the mayor has scraped the bottom of the barrel and decided to put on the table 300 € for anyone who decides to adopt a stray dogA significant challenge, one that hasn't been met with much enthusiasm so far, but one that's a step in the right direction to encourage adoptions. Perhaps a factor is the fact that those who accept the grant must then pay for the dog's initial care, sterilization, and all necessary vaccinations. They must, in short, take care of it. "And our administration has all the tools to verify whether this is actually happening, and whether the dog lives in more than dignified conditions," explains Mayor Imperadore.

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Stray Animals in Italy

Before him, other mayors across Italy have tried to take action to avoid being overwhelmed by the long wave of stray dog ​​populations by introducing incentives and grants. A discount on the Tari (waste tax) for anyone who chooses to adopt a stray dog: this happens in mascalucia in the province of Catania and Wall, in the province of Caserta where the municipal administrations have decided to reward those who adopt an animal with a discount on the waste bill.

TARI DISCOUNT FOR THOSE WHO ADOPT A STRAY DOG

While in Mascalucia the municipality offers 200 euros to all citizens who adopt a dog housed in one of the affiliated kennels, in Parete, the municipal administration provides a 4-year TARI tax relief and up to 400 euros for those who decide to adopt a four-legged friend.

These important measures make it possible to provide a home for abandoned dogs and, at the same time, reduce the costs that local authorities must sustain for the maintenance of kennels.

ITALIAN MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THE MEASURE IS ENVISAGED

And San Potito Imperadore, Mascalucia and Parete are not the only ones Italian municipalities to have promoted this initiative: there are also Diano San Pietro in Liguria, Guspini in Sardinia, Colleferro in Lazio e Roccaspide in CampaniaThese are important measures that we hope will spread to many other Italian cities.

HOW MUCH ARE DOGS AND CATS WORTH IN OUR LIVES?

• Remove dog fleas with lavender oil, white wine vinegar, and lemon. For prevention, clean the dog's bed frequently and make a natural collar (photo).
• Puppies, train them with few, clear words. And with plenty of gestures: always reward them when they behave well (photo)
• To bathe cats: use very hot water and natural products. Otherwise, a towel or wet wipes will suffice (photo).
• Traveling with dogs and cats: everything you need to know. From safety to tickets.
• Petting and cuddling cats is what they prefer. They love chin and ear massages (photo)