An Italian Animal Fact File  :

a guide to the culture and care
of animals in Italy.

Moving to Italy with a dog? - There must be easier ways!

Animals in Italy are an important part of Italian culture.  We have written these pages on animals, pet care and pet health in Italy based on our own experience of taking our greyhound and keeping cats there.  Together, they're a comprehensive animal fact file which will help you to understand a bit more about Italy, and where and how Italian animals fit into Italian culture.



Animal Fact File : culture in Italy and some strange animal facts.


Although the world tends to think of the British as animal lovers, a recent study shows that concern for the welfare of animals in Italy is actually more widespread : 85% of the Italian population were shown to be actively concerned about animal wellbeing compared with 75% in the UK and 65% in France (source - Kjaernes, Lavik and Kjoerstad, 2005).  Animal protection organisations are active throughout Italy and one of only two European centres for animal welfare is based in Termo. 

Horses are often killed in the Siena Palio.

But there has always been a conflict within Italian culture and traditions in the way animals are viewed and treated.  Modern laws at the same time impose heavy penalties on pet owners who mistreat goldfish, but allow wild beasts to be used in circuses. 


Italian animals are protected from docking which is illegal, and electric dog collars which are banned, and in March 2009 animal activists released six thousand pheasants from a farm which bred them for hunting purposes.  And yet, every year thousands of animals in Italy are abandoned in the summer months when owners go on holiday. 


Animals have also played their part in Italian superstitions and rituals, both good and bad.  It's considered lucky to hear a cat sneeze in Italy but bad luck to have a black cat run across your path.  It's bad luck to keep birds in a house but fine on a balcony; peacock feathers are the worst possible omen but it's a good sign if a bird poops on your shoulder or if you step in dog poop. 


And whilst horses are cared for as working animals in the country, fifty have been killed since 1970 in one of the most famous of all Italian traditions : Siena's 'palio'.



Animal Fact File : Italian culture and traditions past and present.

We know from ancient writings and archaeologists' findings in places like Pompeii that animals have always played a central role in Italian culture and traditions, whether as working animals or as pets. 


But what should you expect of modern day attitudes towards Italian animals?  Is it different in the country and the city?  Is it true that city dwellers have become as obsessed with their pets as pet owners in some other countries? 

A fashionista dog hangs out at the Spanish Steps in Rome.

Go to any Italian city and you will find dogs hanging out with their owners in cafes, watching the world go by.  You'll see them cuddled up to homeless people in doorways or carried by kids begging at restaurants. 


Watch out in Rome for dogs zipping round on the floorboard of Vespas, eating specially made pasta-based dog food or doggy ice cream, or dressed to kill on the Spanish Steps.  Italian animals, like their owners, coexist among the wonderful chaos of modern life in ancient cities.


So in the links on this page you will find all the information you need to know about animals in Italian culture and traditions past and present : unusual animal facts, interesting animal facts, funny animal facts, strange animal facts, animal facts for kids; taking your pets to Italy, places to visit in Italy with your pets, caring for animals in Italy.





Animal Fact File number 1:

Ancient Roman animals :
interesting animal facts about ancient Roman culture. 

If you like our site,
please let Google know
by clicking this button!