Hundreds of dogs have been brutally poisoned in Sciacca and there have been many other similar cases in Rosolini and Paternò, and throughout Sicily, where the problem of stray animals has reached intolerable levels in terms of public health, and is of great concern with regard to the incidents of violence and cruelty to animals which have been taking place.

Both the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, signed in Strasbourg on 13 November 1987, and the Treaty of Lisbon (Article 13) stipulate that the EU and its Member States ‘shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals’. As long ago as 4 July 2012 a European Parliament resolution called on the Commission to propose the establishment of an EU legal framework for the protection of pets and stray animals.

In spite of that, the welfare of stray animals is still not adequately covered by EU legislation, since it remains the sole responsibility of the Member States.