Italy faces rising dog welfare challenges amid heat stress and abandonment concerns

A study published in the journal *Animals* examined fatal dog attacks in Italy between 2009 and 2025, finding that extreme heat can increase stress and aggression in reactive dogs. Trainer and canine educator Sabrina Franchin warned that "the heat does not turn a balanced dog into an aggressive one, but it can lower the tolerance threshold of already stressed animals," and she issued a practical guide for owners to recognize signs of discomfort during summer heatwaves.

Separately, a report highlighted a group of seven to nine Maremma dogs kept in an alleged illegal enclosure near the ANAS bridge in Monticchio. Local activists fear the owner may abandon the animals and have appealed to the mayor, police, veterinary services and animal protection groups for urgent investigation and protective action.