ENPA Monza e Brianza (Canile-Gattile di Monza)

ENPA's Monza section was founded in 1940 by Don Giuseppe Baraggia, a chaplain to the Alpini and organist at Monza Cathedral, who soon afterwards had the town's first dog shelter built. After a period of decline in the early 1970s the section was relaunched by vet Giancarlo Malnati and a young Giorgio Riva, who has been president since 1979. Today it is the Monza and Brianza section of E.N.P.A. Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali ODV, a volunteer organisation.

The section manages the Canile-Gattile di Monza, a shelter owned by the City of Monza and run under agreements with 18 towns in Brianza. The dog shelter combines a health kennel for dogs picked up by the ATS veterinary service, a refuge for unclaimed dogs (adoptable after a month) and a section for surrendered and seized dogs. The cat shelter has a clinic ward, an adoption area, space for older and chronically ill cats, an "oasis" for feral cats and a network of volunteer foster homes for kittens. All dogs and cats are sterilised before adoption. In 2025 it took in 175 dogs (96 adopted) and 652 cats (213 adopted) and sterilised 325 cats.

The shelter also takes in rabbits, rodents, birds, reptiles and farm animals (630 arrivals in 2025), passing injured wildlife to recovery centres such as WWF's CRAS in Vanzago. Its volunteer Guardie Zoofile handled 201 cruelty reports in 2025, carrying out 249 inspections in 54 towns. The section also offers free initial legal advice on animal-related problems and a behaviour team that works with the most difficult dogs.

The shelter at Via San Damiano 21 is open daily from 14:30 to 17:30 (except national holidays), with visits and adoption interviews by appointment only. You can adopt, sponsor an animal remotely, volunteer (minimum half a day a week, adults only), become a member or donate by bank transfer, Satispay or the online form; donations to ENPA ODV are tax-deductible in Italy.