MILAN - At Christmas many parents to please their children place under the tree a pet but often do not  realize the responsibility of owning an animal. According to the “Animals of the World” statistics only in Italy 120,000 cretaures are offered as presents during the holidays including birds, rabbits, ferrets, and of course, dogs, and cats. However, 100.000 are then abandoned each year, especially during the period of June –August. Some 60,000 are abandoned each summer.

 The percentage of animals abandoned on Italy’s highways has decreased by 60 percent; however, they are left in front of shelters, in the city, and in areas near holiday resorts, therefore it does not really make much difference. The LAV (League Against Vivisection) estimtes that in the last 10 years 4000 people were involved in accidents caused by wandering animals in the street. 

In summer last year the deputy minister of Health, Adelfio Elio Cardinale, part of Monti’s Government commented on the use of advertisements against abandonment of animals to sensitize the public hoping that, “if we can manage to save even just a single animal from being abandoned we have reached a result. And we must not forget that it is illegal. It is necessary to take culturally a step further and take part in this conflict for civilisation.” Buying animals as a fashion trend also is criticized by LAV President Gianluca Feliti, noting that in the last year the number of miniature poodle sold increased sharply in imitation of Silvio Berlusconi’s fiancè Francesca Pascale’s poodle “Dudù.” 

 The families owning pets usually are either modest, singles or large families. The percentage of adoptions has increased though abandoning animals has not stopped.  The campaign against dereliction on ENPA’s site (National Agency for Animal Protection) highlights the fact that although there are laws with penalties for those who abandon animals, the creatures cannot talk and cannot denounce cruelty towards them. It is not only dogs, and cats that are abandoned every year in Italy, but in an increasing percentage also of guinea pigs, birds, turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and horses. 

Signor Felitti cautions that “the entrance of an animal as an integral member of the family cannot be done as a present, but from a conscious and responsible action that is based upon on a minimum awareness of the requirements of the animal and awareness also of the rights and duties of the owners that fortunately is increasing. Under the tree it is better to offer help for those who help animals looking for a family.” 

On Dec. 10, animal’s rights day, Gaia Animals & Environment in collaboration with AVISL (Associations Victims of the Street), and Diamoci una Zampa (Offer an Helping Paw) proposed the project, “Allegra, Yes I Am!” The project is for children who not only are those who will then become responsible adults, but also those who can touch the adults’ heart. Children are encouraged by May 31, 2014 to submit either with their parents or classes drawings against abandonment. The images should highlight what this plague means from their point of view, the causes, possible solutions and most of all why animals should not be abandoned. The best will then will selected to create a spot to promote awareness among the owners and those who are interested in buying or adopting an animal. To partecipate you can visit on www.allegrayesiam.itfor more information.

With regard to Christmas, Gaia Animals & Environment’s President Edgar Meyer, outlines that this period of the year, “where animals are still offered as gifs with superficiality, as objects, there is no awareness that an animal consists of an obligation for life.”  

To offer donations many associations sell merchandise, such as Diamoci Una Zampa (diamociunazampa.it) offer at 10 Euros calendars those profit will be given to animals in shelters. ENPA centers can be found around Italy and they collect old clothes, blankets, food and much more for those animals in need in shelters. The headquarters in Rome can be found in Via Terni, 42. To find your nearest headquarters look on the site www.enpa.it. In case an abandoned or mistreated animal is found, the emergency number is 800.137.079, otherwise Carabinieri and Police are legally obliged to rescue the animal and can be reached by calling the emergency numbers 112, and 113, respectively. 

Animals are not toys, and not being able to defend themselves alone, they need support from us. This Christmas instead of buying your son or daughter an animal, buy him or her a real toy, and offer any amount to any animal association to help those animals who really need help.