Regional Act no. 15 of 2022 concerning the protection of animals and the prevention of estray.

This Act, consisting of 37 articles, in implementation of the principles of the National Act no. 281 of 1991 and subsequent amendments as well as Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, protects animals as being sentient and condemns acts of cruelty towards animals, in order to ensure them an existence compatible with their biological and ethological characteristics. The Act provides for: methods of proper coexistence with animals, aimed at safeguarding human and animal health, the territory, the environment and at preventing estray; promotion of policies aimed at the protection and welfare of animals; recognition of the primary role of veterinary medicine, civil society, associations, in promoting animal protection and stray prevention policies; control of canine and animal breeding activities, in order to spread a culture responsible for animal management and reproduction.
The Act concerns: powers and duties of the Region, the Municipalities and the provincial health authorities, including: creation of health and hospital shelters; control of the territories in order to limit abandonments and prevent the resurgence of the poisoning phenomenon; promotion of partnerships between public bodies and animal welfare associations for the reception, shelter and temporary care of animals; creation of the animal welfare office; removal of dangerous situations for animals and people, also with the involvement of the provincial health authorities; ensure care of injured animals, vaccination and disease prevention; supervision of the production and trade of pets. Other matters covered by this Act include: Three-year plan of prevention interventions of strays and annual program; creation of the Regional guarantor of animal rights; Regional genetic database; obligations and prohibitions of animals’ owners and holders; killing of animals by veterinarians; standards of hygiene protection of the community.