Over €100,000, three years of work, and one goal: to reduce stray animals and protect animal health. The Municipality is relaunching its campaign with a new sterilization campaign for dogs and cats, as part of the "Zampe Quartesi contro il straagismo" (Quartesi Paws Against Stray Animals) project. The agreement was signed in recent days.

Following an expression of interest published by the administration, the Bau-Club social cooperative was awarded the grant with its project "Zampe Quartesi – A Community That Cares." The total cost for the three-year period 2026-2029 is €112,000: €10,000 allocated by the Municipality for 2026, renewable for an additional €80,000 in subsequent years. The project is scheduled to begin in late 2026.

This significant plan builds on the Milia Administration's years-long commitment to animal welfare, including microchipping, adoption incentives, dog parks in the city and on the beach, and support for associations. This commitment is bearing fruit: the number of dogs at the partner kennel Shardana Srl, which recently won the new three-year contract, has dropped from 431 to 368 in less than a year, a 15% decrease.

The new campaign, which has previously seen the active contribution of Effetto Palla, is aimed at owned dogs and cats, dogs in rural and pastoral settings, including sheep pens, and cats in unrecognized feline groups or colonies. Owners and keepers residing in Quartu, volunteers, or representatives of colonies and sheep pens may apply, according to the criteria and procedures available on the Municipality's official website. The activity will be coordinated by the Environmental Department with the Environmental Surveillance Unit of the local police, social services, animal protection officers, and volunteers.

Not just sterilizations. The project also includes emergency management, temporary foster homes, microchip days, adoption promotion, awareness raising on responsible ownership, the opening of the Zampe Quartesi Help Desk, and the creation of the Zampe Quartesi map to better understand the critical issues in the area. Special attention will be paid to owners experiencing social hardship, who, in the case of temporary foster homes, will have the right to foster their furry friends, preventing abandonment and new arrivals at shelters.

"Joint work always yields positive results," explains Environment Councilor Romina Mura. "Focusing on collaboration between the Municipality, relevant services, operators, and citizens means building a local network capable of preventing stray animals and simultaneously improving animal welfare."

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