Kira, a female Maremma Sheepdog currently hospitalized at a clinic in Rovigo, has been diagnosed with a severe form of diabetes after suddenly losing the ability to stand, prompting a local online fundraising campaign and renewed calls from the animal rights organization LAV for subsidized veterinary care in Italy.
According to LAV Rovigo, the dog’s stabilization requires immediate hospitalization, diagnostic tests, ongoing therapies, medical monitoring, and a subsequent sterilization procedure recommended by veterinarians to better manage the condition. The total estimated medical quote presented to the dog’s owner, Paola, is compreso tra circa 1.800 e 1.900 euro.
The Financial Burden on Families
Paola is currently on a leave of absence from work to assist her mother through cancer treatments, making it impossible for her to cover the veterinary expenses alone, which led her to launch an online crowdfunding campaign. LAV Rovigo shared the appeal publicly while clarifying that the association does not manage the donations directly.
“Quello di Paola e Kira è un caso individuale, ma rappresenta un problema sempre più diffuso,” LAV Rovigo stated, noting that many people view pets as family members but face prohibitive costs when major illnesses strike. The organization emphasized that relying entirely on public solidarity should not be a requirement for securing essential animal medical care.
National Campaign for Social Veterinary Care
The case has spotlighted LAV’s ongoing national campaign titled “La cura e il cibo non sono un lusso” (Care and food are not a luxury), which calls on the Italian government, parliament, and regional authorities to implement structural reforms making veterinary services more affordable. Key demands include reducing the value-added tax (VAT) on veterinary services from the current 22 percent, lowering prescription drug prices, increasing tax deductions, and establishing a widespread network of social veterinary clinics.
According to official data released by LAV, the organization’s social veterinary clinics handled 923 examinations and 193 medical procedures during 2025, providing treatment for 413 animals across 259 economically vulnerable households. LAV is actively pressing authorities to expand these subsidized medical initiatives to additional territories across Italy to prevent treatment abandonment and pet surrenders driven by economic hardship.
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