Olbia stray dog feeding ban annulled by Sardinia court

The Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Sardinia has annulled an ordinance issued by the Mayor of Olbia, Settimo Nizzi, which prohibited feeding stray dogs in the CIPNES Gallura industrial district. The ban was originally implemented to manage the stray dog population and facilitate capture for sterilization and microchipping, citing safety risks to road traffic and workers.

The court ruled that feeding stray animals remains lawful, provided that citizens use appropriate containers and remove them after use to maintain civic decorum. The judges determined that the mayor's measure lacked the necessary prerequisites of urgency, exceptionality, and unpredictability required for such a radical prohibition. The legal challenge was brought forward by the association ‘Rispetto per tutti gli animali’.