Ban on feeding cats in prison sparks controversy

"Do not feed the cats in Bancali prison." The prison warden's order is opposed by the UilPa prison police union, which reacts with a harsh statement. While the trade association acknowledges the problem of the facility's many felines, citing proposed solutions—from cat colonies to microchipping—it disputes the warden's decision.

"We can't starve these poor animals," says UilPa Secretary General Michele Cireddu. "Especially," he states, addressing Bancali's leadership, "considering the ultimate goal you expressed: to avoid the 'consequent health and hygiene problems they may cause' and to 'neutralize the effects of the disinfestations that are periodically ordered."

Cireddu asks whether the aforementioned disinfestations were carried out against cockroaches, denying that the insects' presence is due to felines. "In light of the above," UilPa attacks, "we formally request to know on which veterinary medical certificates, health and hygiene assessments drawn up by competent bodies, or technical reports you based the order for a complete feeding ban, so that we can verify the validity and necessity of such an act." And if these documents are missing, the director's decision appears "potentially arbitrary."

"Furthermore, considering that these poor animals," Cireddu continues, "are also confined within the enclosure and therefore unable to seek food outside the Institute, it seems like a truly cruel act against them."

Cireddu recalls Article 544-ter of the Criminal Code, which "punishes anyone who, through cruelty or needlessly, causes injury, torture, or subjects animals to unbearable suffering." According to UilPa, the ban on feeding cats falls within this category.

"If this provision were to cause prolonged suffering or the death of the animals present within the Institute, the signatory could be held liable—even personally—with potential civil and criminal consequences, for example, instigating or aiding and abetting conduct potentially relevant under current legislation."

Finally, the union appealed to the director, asking for the revocation of the provision, deeming it questionable from both a legal and humane perspective, "since, as Gandhi stated, 'the civilization of a people is judged by the way it treats animals'."