A cat colony in a shared building in Mola di Bari
The ASL Bari refused to recognise a colony because it lived in the grounds of a shared building. After Animal Law Italia's formal notice, the Puglia Region agreed with us: the building manager's consent is not required.
A cat colony in Mola di Bari (BA) had been waiting more than a year to be recognised and registered. The ASL Bari, the local health authority, refused to proceed because the cats live in the grounds of a shared building: in its view, the request had to come from the building manager. Without recognition, the cats could not be neutered.
No law, national or regional, requires the building manager's consent. Puglia's regional law no. 2/2020 defines a colony's habitat as “any urban area or part of one, public or private”. After Animal Law Italia's formal notice, the Puglia Region confirmed this in writing: a principle that applies to every colony in a shared building.
- Report (completed)
- Legal action (completed)
- Outcome (completed)
Last update: 3 August 2026 — The Puglia Region agrees with us
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Updates
3 August 2026
The Puglia Region agrees with us
The Region writes to the ASL and the municipality: the law does not make a colony's recognition depend on the building manager's consent or on a vote of the residents' meeting.
17 July 2026
Formal notice to the ASL Bari
Animal Law Italia gives the ASL thirty days to conclude the procedure, recognise the colony and start neutering, or it will go to the regional administrative court (TAR).
March 2026
Request for clarification
Rete Felina asks the ASL for clarification. No reply.
October 2025
The ASL refuses
According to the ASL, the colony cannot be recognised because it lives in the grounds of a shared building: the building manager would have to ask.
July 2025
The local police ask for recognition
After an inspection, the local police send the ASL Bari's veterinary service a request to recognise and neuter the colony.