Dog shelters and kennels in Italy: A comprehensive guide to adoption and volunteering.
- dogpediaitaly
- Oct 10
- 5 min read
If you're considering adopting a dog or volunteering at an animal shelter, it's important to first familiarize yourself with the situation in each region of Italian animal shelters. Kennels and cattery boarding houses, often run by organizations like ENPA or LNDC, are a source of hope for thousands of abandoned animals every day.
š¶ The kennels and animal shelters of Northern Italy
The kennels and animal shelters of Northern Italy
Lombardy (coverage for the main provinces)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Milan (MI) | Milan's Animal Shelter and Kennel Park | Tel.: 02 88467393 / Website: Search for āParco Rifugio Milanoā | Mainly communal structure, adoptions are handled under an agreement. |
Monza (MB) | Monza refuge "Il Parco" | Tel: 039 388304 / ENPA Monza website | Historical administration of the ENPA Monza and Brianza section . |
Brescia (BS) | SOS Stray Dogs Association | Tel: 346 3856600 / Email: info@canilerifugiobrescia.it | Animal facility managed by volunteers. |
Bergamo (BG) | The Dog Home (series) | Tel: 035 298651 / Email: info@ilrifugiodelcane.org | Active animal shelter for intake and adoption. |
Varese (VA) | Health kennel and animal shelter (Varese) | Tel: 0332 320660 (ASST Sette Laghi) | Municipal/ASL reference for the province. |
Como (CO) | Como Hut (Erbusco) | Contacts: LNDC Como Section | Structure managed by the National League for the Defense of the Dog. |
Mantua (MN) | Municipal Dog Kennel (Mantua) | Contacts: ASL Veterinary Service or Mantua Municipality . | Structure by arrangement. |
Cremona (CR) | Refuge "The Masters of Argos" | Contacts: Search association āI Padroni di Argoā Cremona. | Association that actively promotes recovery. |
Piedmont (key provinces)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Turin (TO) | āMadonna della Guardiaā LNDC animal shelter and kennel | Tel: 011 2215857 / LNDC Turin website | Administered by the National League for the Defense of the Dog . |
Cuneo (CN) | Cuneo Kennel and ENPA Section | Contacts: ENPA Cuneo Section / Tel: 347 1140939 | Indispensable reference work for this field. |
Alessandria (AL) | Animal shelter āFour-legged friendsā | Contacts: Search āAmici a 4 Zampeā association Alessandria. | Structure managed by an association. |
Novara (NO) | Sanitary kennels and animal shelter (Novara) | Contacts: ASL Novara Veterinary Service. | Shelter. |
Veneto (references in the city and province)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Vicenza (VI) | ENPA ā Dog Shelter | Adoptions Tel: 340 1820436 (afternoons) / ENPA Vicenza Website | Local ENPA office. |
Venice (VE) | ENPA accommodation in Venice San Giuliano | Tel: 329 6799926 / Email: Rifugiovenezia@enpa.org | ENPA structure active. |
Verona (VR) | Pescantina Doghouse (ENPA) | Contacts: Search ENPA Verona / Tel: 045 7150530 | The kennel is managed by the ENPA Verona section. |
Padua (PD) | LNDC Dog Kennel, Padua Section | Contacts: Search LNDC Padova | Local landmark. |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-South Tyrol, Liguria and the Aosta Valley
region | province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste (TS) | LNDC Animal Shelter Kennel | Contacts: Search for LNDC Trieste online. |
Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Udine (UD) | Dog shelter āFriends of Ulyssesā | Contacts: Look for the āFriends of Ulyssesā association in Udine. |
Trentino-South Tyrol | Trento (TN) | Rovereto Doghouse | Contacts: Municipality of Rovereto or APSS Veterinary Service. |
Liguria | Genoa (GE) | Monte Contessa Kennel Shelter | Contacts: Search for āMonte Contessaā on the city of Genoaās website. |
Liguria | La Spezia (SP) | Doghouse La Spezia | Contacts: ENPA La Spezia section or municipality. |
Aosta Valley | Aosta (AO) | Regional kennel | Contacts: ASL Valle d'Aosta . |
š®š¹ The kennels and animal shelters of Central Italy
Lazio (Important points for Rome and the province)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Rome (RM) | Muratella Kennel Shelter | Tel: 06 98875859 / Email: canilerifugio.muratella@gmail.com | Public structure of the capital Rome. |
Latina (LT) | L'Isola Felice Refuge (ENPA) | Tel: 347 3876008 / Email: info@enpalatina.org | Very active ENPA area. |
Frosinone (FR) | Kennel accommodation (Ceccano) | Contacts: The administrative association can be found on the Ceccano municipality website. | Local landmark. |
Tuscany (references in the heart of the region)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Florence (FI) | Dog League Animal Shelter | Tel: 055 210085 / Search Dog League Florence | Historic Dog League headquarters. |
Pisa (PI) | Zoo kennel | Tel: 050 981155 / Email: canilecomunale@comune.pisa.it | Municipal kennel and animal shelter. |
Livorno (LI) | Kennel and animal shelter āIl Cavalcoā | Contacts: Search the website of the Municipality of Livorno or local associations. | Run by volunteers. |
Siena (SI) | Municipal Dog Kennel Siena | Contact: Municipality of Siena or ASL Veterinary Service. | Structure by arrangement. |
Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria
region | province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) |
Emilia-Romagna | Bologna (BO) | The dog and cat shelter | Tel: 051 6325537 / Email: info@tdbcenter.com |
Emilia-Romagna | Rimini (RN) | Dog kennel Rimini (Rimini) | Contact: Municipality of Rimini or the āFriends of Valmarecchiaā association. |
Brands | Ancona (AN) | Municipal animal shelter kennel | Contacts: Search for āmunicipal kennelā on the Ancona Municipality website. |
Umbria | Perugia (PG) | Municipal kennel āIl Cascinottoā. | Contact: Municipality of Perugia or ASL Veterinaria. |
Umbria | Terni (TR) | ENPA Refuge (Terni) | Contacts: ENPA Terni Section . |
āļø The kennels and animal shelters of the South and the Islands
Campania (need for support in the fight against stray animals)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Naples (NA) | Municipal Dog Shelter āLa Collina di Argoā | Tel. Guardiania: 081 7950930 / Email: collinadiargo@comune.napoli.it | Municipal reception and adoption center. |
Caserta (CE) | ENPA Caserta Shelter Kennel | Tel: 338 6496495 / Email: info@enpacaserta.it | Local ENPA section, very active. |
Salerno (SA) | Shelter of the lay association āLa Madonnellaā | Contacts: Search for āLa Madonnellaā on the Internet or at the municipality. | Animal shelter and adoption facility. |
Puglia (high stray animal rate, great need for support)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Bari (BA) | Health kennel and animal shelter | Contacts: Veterinary Service ASL Bari . | Public reception facility. |
Lecce (LE) | Association āFriends of the Pawā | Contacts: Search online for āAmici di Zampa Lecce.ā | Salento association dedicated to care and sterilization. |
Foggia (FG) | Doghouse Foggia | Contacts: Municipality of Foggia or local associations (e.g. LNDC). | Indispensable reference work for this field. |
Taranto (TA) | Health kennel and animal shelter | Contacts: ASL Taranto Veterinary Service. | Structure by arrangement. |
Sicily (Extensive wandering and intensive volunteer work)
province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) | Information on management |
Palermo (PA) | Favorite home for abandoned dogs | Tel: 340 5512698 / Email: info@legadelcane-pa.org | Historic animal shelter managed by the Dog League. |
Catania (CT) | AISA shelter | Contacts: Search online for AISA Canile Catania. | Volunteer organization dedicated to recovery. |
Agrigento (AG) | Hope Refuge Agrigento | Tel: 342 1836988 / Email: Rifugio.hope@libero.it | Long-distance adoptions are also offered. |
Messina (ME) | Noah's Ark Refuge | Contacts: Search association āL'Arca di NoĆØā Messina. | Structure managed by an association. |
Calabria, Sardinia, Molise and Basilicata
region | province | Structure and location | Useful contacts (Tel./Web/Official contacts) |
Calabria | Cosenza (CS) | Cosenza Kennel Shelter | Contacts: Search for āmunicipal kennelā on the Cosenza Municipality website. |
Calabria | Reggio Calabria (RC) | ENPA Refuge (Reggio Calabria) | Contacts: Search online for ENPA Reggio Calabria . |
Sardinia | Cagliari (CA) | Municipal Kennel of Cagliari | Contacts: Municipality of Cagliari or LNDC. |
Sardinia | Sassari (SS) | L'Impronta Refuge | Contacts: Search L'Impronta Refuge Sassari. |
Molise | Campobasso (CB) | Campobasso Kennel Shelter | Contacts: Municipality of Campobasso . |
Basilicata | Performance (PZ) | Potenza Municipal Kennel | Contacts: Municipality of Potenza . |
Abruzzo | Pescara (PE) | Municipal Kennel of Pescara | Contact: Municipality of Pescara or ASL Veterinaria. |
š” The most reliable channel for official contacts
Despite the extensive list, for kennels that do not have direct contact with an association (often due to changes in management), the safest way to receive up-to-date information is always the institutional channel:
Search your local authority's website: Enter "animal protection agency" followed by the name of your municipality/state.
Contact your local veterinary authority: Your local health authority (ATS, ASL or ULSS) has the official register of animal shelters and can refer you to the appropriate shelter.
š¤ More than just adoption: How to support animal shelters
Volunteering: Take time for walks and social gatherings.
Donations: Offer food, blankets, or a financial contribution.
Long-distance adoption: Support those most in need.
Remember: Always call the shelter before going to check opening hours and specific procedures.
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