Once again this year, Strada dei Parchi, with the sponsorship of LNDC Animal Protection, renews its commitment to promote responsible pet ownership and combat the phenomenon of abandonment during the summer months. Like every summer, in fact, dramatic numbers are feared: more than 50,000 dogs and 80,000 cats are abandoned in Italy every year.
In addition to constituting a hateful act, unworthy of a human being toward sentient beings who love us unconditionally, the abandonment of animals on roads and highways results in a concrete, very serious risk for road users, and is now a criminal offense for which there is an arrest of up to one year, or a fine ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 euros.
Our four-legged friends deserve constant love and care, so the Summer 2024 campaign aims to highlight how it is possible to travel together with your pets, offering practical tips for pet-friendly vacations.
Going away with your four-legged friend is becoming easier and easier, thanks to the growing number of accommodations, beaches and hotels that are available and equipped to take them in their facilities; alternatively, there are dog walkers and boarding houses ready to take care of them in the city. These solutions could be a way to discourage abandonment, because all too often, especially during the summer period and with the arrival of the vacations, it happens to come across dogs or other animals walking alone in the street or tied to a pole, in a parking lot or on the highway, with a meager ration of water and food next to them. It should be remembered that a pet left in the street can become the cause of traffic accidents, even fatalities.
With LNDC Animal Protection, Parks Road reminds you that there are some actions you can take in these cases:
- Figure out if the animal is lost, stray, or abandoned;
- Call the appropriate authority at the scene (on highways you can call the Traffic Police or the Single Emergency Number 112);
- contact area associations, either by phone or through social networks, keeping in mind, however, that they cannot take the place of the relevant bodies.
Even on vacation, your four-legged friend is ready to follow you with love and respect. Together, your vacation will be beautiful!
Don’t abandon those who make you happy every day of the year. Share the journey, share the life!
