OIPA Italy has launched in 2002 a great project: the eco-zoophilous guards, they are volunteers with powers as public officers and their duty is to protect the animals and the environment.
The guards were established in 2002 as active section in Milan, and today they are in 17 regions of Italy and have 62 active sections, they are a landmark for all the citizens who care about animal welfare and rights.
There is in Italy a proper law (Legge n° 611 del 12 giugno 1913, Legge 20 luglio 2004 n. 189 on animals protection) which regulates legally their powers, rights and obligations.
The guards are entitled by the law to perform rescue operations to protect animals, moreover they can protect the wild animals and the environment on their territory of power. Besides their operative role, the guards can perform an educational work in the schools and cities to educate the population to protect and prevent the risks for the environment and the animals.
THE GUARDS POWERS AND TASKS
The guards duty regards mostly the animal and environment protection. The reports drafted by the guards have legal value, their powers are similar to those of a police officer.
The guards are volunteers, on duty are public officers and can report to the law the crimes they notice. The have legal powers only about pets crimes.
If they find someone committing a crime, they can report the person to the police, only in case of urgency they can proceed effectively with seizures (when there is the risk to lose evidences, or risk of damage for the animals or the environment).
The guards are at the moment a landmark for the citizens, for the public officers and for all those people who are concerned about the animals and the environment.
SOME ECO-ZOOPHILOUS GUARDS OPERATIONS
2008. Milan – 600 animals rescued, 500 consultations and 39 seizures
2009. Milan – seizured and set free 1000 goldfinch and others protected species
- Rome – rescued 23 mistreated dogs
- Naples – stopped illegal traffic of protected wild animals
- Milan – seized a boa from a private Garden, it was escaped from his cage. Soon the owner was founded and the snake returned.
- Caserta – seizured 348 calves injured, their horns were cruelly removed
- Urbino – seizured several animals from a circle, they were kept in nasty conditions and the lions didn’t have enough room.
- Rome – after an environmental disaster the guards saved the injured animals and helped cleaning the territory.
- Rome – reported a woman which removed illegally and cruelly parrots’ wings. She was performing those amputations only to raise money begging.
