"Leave Dogs at Home" Country Banning Dog-Friendly Yoga 'Doga'

Italy "Act of Long-Term Abuse of Puppy"
Only Yoga with Fully Grown Adult Dogs Allowed
Yoga Companies Protest... "It Can Be True Relaxation"

Yoga classes accompanied by puppies have been banned in Italy. This decision was made to allow only fully grown adult dogs to accompany yoga classes, following concerns about potential animal abuse.

On the 3rd (local time), US CNN and the UK daily The Guardian reported that "the Italian Ministry of Health announced that bringing puppies to exercise classes such as yoga is not permitted."

The scene of a dog-accompanied yoga class called "dog yoga" or "doga" (dog+yoga) [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier in March, the Italian Canal5 broadcast's current affairs program "Striscia la Notizia" reported that "in dog-accompanied yoga classes called 'puppy yoga' or 'doga' (dog+yoga), young dogs including puppies only about 40 days old are exploited by being used for long hours."

Following the report, the animal protection organization Lega Nazionale per la Difesa del Cane (LNDC) sent a protest letter to the Ministry of Health, stating that "yoga centers conducting dog-accompanied classes are using puppies for long hours and not providing adequate water and food to prevent them from relieving themselves during classes."

The organization emphasized, "The puppies used in yoga classes are treated like exercise equipment," adding, "They are confined in cages during breaks and are sometimes transported in boxes or plastic bags, which constitutes abuse." They further noted, "Considering the age of the puppies accompanying the classes, it is highly likely that they have not completed their vaccinations."

Piera Rosati, president of LNDC, strongly criticized puppy-accompanied yoga as "commercial exploitation that completely disregards the well-being and mental and physical health of these fragile animals."

Concerns have also been raised that puppies thrown into rooms full of unfamiliar environments and strangers suffer from severe stress.

As calls to ban puppy yoga grew louder, the Ministry of Health issued a legal interpretation stating that "the use of dogs falls under the jurisdiction of the 'Animal-Assisted Intervention Law'." They explained, "This measure is for the health and well-being of animals as well as the safety of yoga participants."

However, yoga businesses immediately opposed this Ministry of Health measure.

The chain 'PuppyYogaOfficial,' which conducts dog-accompanied classes at yoga centers across Italy, claimed, "There may be people who want contact with animals they do not keep at home," and added, "Also, people suffering from illnesses say that puppy yoga classes provide genuine relaxation."