What role do non-human animals occupy today in law? Are traditional legal categories still adequate to respond to the scientific, social and ethical transformations of recent decades? And what contribution can law offer to rethink the relationship between human beings, animals and the environment?
These are the questions addressed by the volume Lineamenti di diritto e diritti degli animali non umani (Outlines of Law and the Rights of Non-Human Animals), edited by Sara De Vido and Monica Gazzola and published by Edizioni Ca’ Foscari in the Studi e ricerche series.
The work represents one of the main scientific outcomes of the Jean Monnet module WHALE, and in fact originates from the teaching and research experience developed over the course of the project, with the aim of offering an up-to-date and interdisciplinary tool for understanding the evolution of animal law in national, European and international contexts.
Starting from the awareness that the relationship between human beings and animals is undergoing a profound transformation, the volume proposes a critical reflection on traditional legal categories, putting them in dialogue with the most recent developments in philosophy, ethics, social sciences and life sciences. What emerges is a picture that conveys the full complexity of the contemporary debate, characterised by a progressive rethinking of the role of animals within the legal dimension.
An interdisciplinary journey
The volume is organised into four major thematic areas.
The first is dedicated to the philosophical, ethical and sociological spheres. It explores topics such as ecofeminism, Human-Animal Studies, animal ethics and the environmental and social implications of contemporary farming systems.
The second analyses the international and European dimension, addressing central issues such as the protection of biodiversity, international trade, cultural heritage and the role of European Union institutions in animal protection.
Ample space is then dedicated to criminal and civil law. The volume examines the most recent legislative developments, including the changes introduced by the recent Law No. 82 of 2025, addressing crimes against animals, procedural protection tools (including seizure and confiscation) and the position of the animal within civil law.
A further section focuses on constitutional and comparative law, analysing the process of constitutionalising animal protection in Italy and around the world, the competences of public administrations and some of the most significant foreign experiences.
In-depth focus sections
Alongside the systematic treatment, the volume offers a series of focus sections dedicated to specific current and debated issues. These include:
- the role of veterinary medicine and the evolution of professional ethics;
- activism and lobbying in European decision-making processes;
- the regulation of hunting and wildlife;
- the protection of animals used in scientific research in light of Directive 2010/63/EU;
- animal exploitation in the fashion industry and the prospects offered by innovative materials;
- the connections between food, sustainability and consumption models.
The aim is to offer the reader not only a theoretical framework, but also tools for analysing the main practical issues that characterise animal law today.
Who is it for? A text for study, research and professional practice
Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach and regulatory updates, the volume is aimed at a broad and varied audience: students, lawyers, the judiciary, the research community, the veterinary sector, animal protection associations, Animal Welfare Officers (Guardie Zoofile), educators and, more generally, all those who wish to deepen their knowledge of this constantly evolving subject.
The volume is available both in print format and in Open Access, with the option to download the PDF for free from the Edizioni Ca’ Foscari website.