ROME – Italy's Parliament has been inundated with a constellation of worthy proposals for new legislation regarding animal rights, fighting against abuse, maltreatment and killings of furry friends, ‘Il Fatto Quotidiano’ newspaper reported Monday.

 According to the Eurispes Report 2016, the Italian population house at least 60 million pets in their homes. Indeed, our furry friends hold a special place in the heart of the Italian public. Hence, there has been a significant boom in proposals to safeguard and protect creatures such as horses, rabbits, dogs and cats.

 Half of them have been signed by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a former minister of culture and tourism. In all 87 proposals in total have been sent.

 The requests include -- more animal shelters, harsher sanctions for abandonment and unnecessary killings, lower prices for veterinary care, a special telephone number to dial for immediate response to road accidents involving animals, stricter regulation of the fur trade and modifications to the constitution and penal code in order to guarantee the rights of such creatures.

 Loredana Lupo, Five Star Movement politician, was the first to sign a proposal for a law against the sexual torture of animals, which she claims, “contrary to what is widely believed, is actually quite widespread.”

 A fine of up to 90, 000 euros and prison terms of between two and six years has been suggested for the trafficking of protected species, while some MPs want to see the fines for abandonment to be doubled to up to 20,000 euros.

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