The episode of Report on ENCI and Michela Vittoria Brambilla is sparking debate.

Deputy Brambilla takes the microphone from journalist Giulia Innocenzi’s hand

At the beginning of January, an episode of TV program REPORT sparked significant controversy. The focus of journalist Giulia Innocenzi’s investigation—author of Food for Profit and a long-time advocate for animal rights—was ENCI, the National Institution of Italian Cynology (like the British Kennel Club), an organization tasked with promoting and protecting dog breeds in Italy. The episode brought to light a series of concerning issues, including the authenticity of pedigrees, the ethics of certain training methods, the lack of oversight in breeding facilities, and the (usual) connections to politics.

Particularly shocking for the audience was the revelation that ENCI had sponsored nearly half a million euros over two years to the Mediaset program Dalla parte degli animali, hosted by MEP Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a popular animal welfare activist in Italy. The program, initially dedicated to abandoned dogs, began including more purebred dogs, following the significant contribution from ENCI.

The episode’s contents sparked a heated debate, especially within the veterinary, breeding and dog training communities, while the world of animal rights associations remained notably silent after the broadcast. Our president, Sara Turetta, shared some reflections the day after the episode aired on her social media channels and participated in a live discussion with Dr. Valentina Chiapatti (Amica Veterinaria), along with a breeder and a dog trainer, to comment on the episode together.

In the days following the broadcast, several parliamentary inquiries were filed, including calls for ENCI to be placed under special administration.

Deputy Brambilla takes the microphone from journalist Giulia Innocenzi’s hand

At the beginning of January, an episode of TV program REPORT sparked significant controversy. The focus of journalist Giulia Innocenzi’s investigation—author of Food for Profit and a long-time advocate for animal rights—was ENCI, the National Institution of Italian Cynology (like the British Kennel Club), an organization tasked with promoting and protecting dog breeds in Italy. The episode brought to light a series of concerning issues, including the authenticity of pedigrees, the ethics of certain training methods, the lack of oversight in breeding facilities, and the (usual) connections to politics.

Particularly shocking for the audience was the revelation that ENCI had sponsored nearly half a million euros over two years to the Mediaset program Dalla parte degli animali, hosted by MEP Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a popular animal welfare activist in Italy. The program, initially dedicated to abandoned dogs, began including more purebred dogs, following the significant contribution from ENCI.

The episode’s contents sparked a heated debate, especially within the veterinary, breeding and dog training communities, while the world of animal rights associations remained notably silent after the broadcast. Our president, Sara Turetta, shared some reflections the day after the episode aired on her social media channels and participated in a live discussion with Dr. Valentina Chiapatti (Amica Veterinaria), along with a breeder and a dog trainer, to comment on the episode together.

In the days following the broadcast, several parliamentary inquiries were filed, including calls for ENCI to be placed under special administration.