Italy's dog shelters house over 14,000 animals at risk of permanent confinement

A Legambiente report released in July 2025 shows that 13,854 dogs entered municipal shelters across 221 Italian communes that year. Only 6,696 were adopted and 3,915 returned to owners or placed as neighborhood dogs, leaving 3,243 (23.4%) without a placement. Extrapolating nationally, the organisation estimates more than 14,700 dogs could remain in shelters indefinitely. The report cites uncontrolled litters, online animal sales, lack of dog registration and insufficient owner preparation as primary drivers, noting that each dog costs roughly €1,900 per year to house.

In Milan, the city council issued a tender to select a new operator for its municipal kennel on Via Aquila. The contract, worth €2.1 million over three years—a 34 % increase from the previous bid—covers a 35,000 sqm facility that has housed stray, seized and abandoned dogs since 2008. The tender emphasizes continuity of care, behavioral rehabilitation, promotion of “adoption awareness” (especially of older or ill animals), and post‑adoption monitoring. Applications are open until 3 September 2026.