Some relief for animals in Italy - according to a sidebar story in
Wired News (http://www.wired.com/), by Tony Long:

"Italians who abandon pets when going on vacation or who kill an
animal unlawfully will face some real jail time and a stiff fine under
a new law approved by the national parliament. Someone convicted of
abandoning a cat or dog is looking at a fine of up to 10,000 euros
($12,400) and a one-year prison sentence. Organizing cockfights or
dogfights could land you behind bars for up to three years and cost
you 160,000 euros ($198,250)."

Yay, Italy!

Hugs and Purrs,
Mark