Victory for animal rights activists: “puppy yoga”, or the activity that involves the use of puppy dogs during yoga sessions, has been officially defined as illegal. Although the discipline has enjoyed growing success in recent months, both in Italy and abroad, the Ministry of Health has decided to ban it. In a note dated April 29, he also explained the reasons: «Animal-assisted interventions cannot be carried out with puppies but only with adults, a necessary condition to protect their health and well-being».
What the law says
Another internal note, released by the Head of the One Health Department, Giovanni Leonardi, included yoga sessions with dogs among the IAA (Animal Assisted Interventions) activities. A categorization that excludes, according to national guidelines, the use of puppies. The legislation on the matter is crystallized by the State-Regions agreement on Animal-Assisted Interventions, which requires the use of strictly adult animals for the aforementioned practices. And this is so that there is protection of “the health and well-being of animals as well as the safety of users”.
The reaction of animal rights activists
The Lndc Animal Protection association, which initiated the complaint to the Milan prosecutor’s office for possible mistreatment of animals, rejoices. «We are faced with real exploitation for commercial purposes which takes no account of the well-being and psychophysical health of creatures who are still too fragile to be treated in this way. At that age, puppies should not have to face travel and stress, but stay in a calm and protected environment under the guidance and care of their mother who can teach them to socialize correctly and to face the outside world with confidence, as well as provide them with adequate nourishment for their growth”, explained the President of Lndc Animal Protection, Piera Rosati.
