Florence animal hoarding case: 70 dogs seized from cramped apartment

Police from the Carabinieri CITES unit seized 70 dogs from an 80‑square‑metre apartment in Florence after residents reported the conditions. The dogs, ranging from chihuahuas to poodles, were being sold online for up to €1,500 each, and were found in extreme neglect.

The incident has been linked to an animal‑hoarding disorder, a psychiatric condition in which a person accumulates animals without being able to provide adequate care. Authorities highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary response involving veterinarians, social workers, psychologists and mental‑health services to prevent recurrences.

Senator Manfredi Potenti of the Lega party called for stricter regulations on the breeding and sale of companion animals, urging that any commercial reproduction be limited to registered breeders and that transfers, even free ones, be documented with contracts.