Canes, cats, horses, rabbits, cows, sheep, bears, wolves, pythons, lobsters, goats, goldfish and even a rat. These are the customers of Giada Bernardi since she chose to be the “Animal Lawyer”, that is, to dedicate her profession to the protection of animals and their rights. To do this, he founded “GiustiziAnimale”, a unique law firm that works throughout Italy. And he chose to tell it in a book (The Animal AdvocateLe Lucerne Editions) his choice and many of the disputes he faced. Disputes which, he explains, «over the years have increased exponentially, demonstrating a greater awareness on the part of peoplewho today decide to bring everything that previously remained to the tables of the Courts
hidden under a hundred layers of dust of silence.”
“The animal advocate” tells of her battles: for dogs, cats, bears and wild boars
From veterinary medical malpractice to battles for bears and wolves of Trentino (like the JJ4 bear). From complaints to lager kennels and illegal breeders to regulation of the custody of pets of separating couples. From redhibitory vices to seizures, from litigation over the ownership of an animal to condominium dispute hinged on the neighbor who doesn’t tolerate the dog taking the elevator.
“Animal rights”, from Giada Bernardi’s point of view, is a «mosaic to which every day a piece is added laboriously extracted from a tangle of laws, regulations, ordinances and decrees which even today are not adequate for worthy protection».
Giada Bernardi with her book
The Brambilla law and the civil protection of animals
An example? «Let’s take the Brambilla law, just approved: it is fundamental because, for the first time, it considers animals as living beings to be protectedestablishing relatively severe penalties for those who mistreat them. But it only deals with the criminal aspects. From the point of view of civil protection, animals are still things. So much so that stallholders and pension managers are considered “responsible custodians”. With important consequences on the protection of the “depot” in the event of accidents.
Not just dogs and cats. The animal advocate and bears, wolves, wild boars
Another theme that is very close to Bernardi’s heart is protection of wild animals: bears, wolves… «But also wild boars. However, public opinion becomes interested in these animals when something sensational happens: like the case of wild boar brutally kicked to death by a motorist in Guidoniain September. In everyday life these animals annoy us. We continue to have an anthropocentric mentality, to feel like we are masters of nature too.” Its mission is therefore also to raise awareness of a deeper respect, which extends beyond the threshold of our homes, where – often – dogs and cats live like kings.
We therefore asked Giada Bernardi for four representative stories of her work. He told it to us like this.
The dog Giacomo and the condemnation of those who massacred him, in Sardinia
Very good 17 year old mixed breed, deaf blind and with serious walking problems. Massacred with 17 blows of a billhook on 01.23.2019 in Santa Teresa Gallura from the neighbor for the owner. Legitimate defense this was what the accused, self-confessed, always deduced. Convicted by the Criminal Court of Tempio Pausania for the crime referred to in art. 544 bis of the Criminal Code to 4 months (miserable punishment) and compensation for damages to the civil party, the accused appealed. Rejected with full confirmation of the first degree decision dated 09 September 2025 by the Court of Appeal of Sassari and with the Prosecutor’s Office having requested acquittal.
«Important sentences – despite the very miserable punishment – because issued in Sardinia, a land where animals are considered by most to be less than nothing.”
The dog Crush, disputed “like a son” during the separation of his “owners”
Crush is the dog of a de facto couple. After the separation, a dispute arises over the placement of the little animal, registered to the partner but always cared for by the lady. After 1 and a half years of civil litigation – and the passage of the dog from one house to another – the parties reach an agreement which will shortly be brought to the attention of the Court: Crush will be placed with the lady and the ex-partner will retain ownership with visitation rights.
«A very widespread case, which in the absence of ad hoc legislation is managed following the provisions in force regarding the fostering and placement of children. Even in this case, it is the animals who pay the consequences of incomplete legislation, tossed from one side to the other and used as a weapon of blackmail. Just like it happens with children.”
Veterinary malpractice and the cat Rufus
More widespread than you might think, it undermines the excellent work of many veterinarians who do their job with passion, heart and professionalism. They range from surgical operations performed without “pre-hospitalization” tests that cause death as a result of inadequate anesthesia to stomach torsions mistaken for gastritis without performing an ultrasound abdomen. From chemotherapy treatments given to healthy animals, in whom the tumor had been diagnosed based on symptoms and without any examination, to approximate surgeries.
It is the story of Rufus, a cat who suffered a significant femoral fracture following a fall from the balcony, and was subjected to three surgeries to have the first orthopedic surgeon insertedn fixator of an inappropriate type and size for the fracture and especially for the puss. Today he is fine, but has an obvious limp.
The story of Sara, who lost a phalanx in retirement
There are many disputes for responsibility of managers of pensions or stalls, for which the current regulations on deposits apply.
It is the story of Sara, left retired for a short period and found by the owner with a bandaged paw: the plaster hid a deep wound with the bone exposed. The owner of the pension did not notify the lady, nor was she able to provide explanations regarding the cause of the injury. Sara lost a phalanx of the third toe of her left paw. The lady sued the pension for violation of the depositary’s obligations and received a total acceptance sentencewith the facility condemned to pay compensation for pecuniary damages (expenses incurred for veterinary care) and non-pecuniary damages.
The lawyer explains: «It is a 2021 sentence, very important for the recognition of the right to obtain compensation for moral damage to the owner of an injured animal – if not also deceased – during the period of assignment (storage) to third parties».