Italian lawmaker Luca Marconi pushes mandatory dog‑owner licence

Luca Marconi, capogruppo of the Union of the Centre (UdC) in the regional council of Marche, has signed a proposal to introduce a compulsory licence for dog caregivers, to be presented to the Italian Parliament.

The bill calls for a mandatory training course that combines theoretical instruction with practical sessions using the owner’s own dog. After completing the course, a licence would be issued. Risk assessment would be based on the dog’s behaviour, the environment and the owner’s management skills, moving away from breed‑based classifications.

The proposal also includes special protections for elderly or vulnerable people, school awareness campaigns, a national monitoring system through the Sistema Informativo Nazionale degli Animali da Compagnia (SINAC), and penalties for non‑compliance.