Italian shelter blocks AfD politician from adopting a puppy over her party ties

Fortuna Animali, an animal welfare organization in Italy, refused to place a setter dog for adoption with AfD lawmaker Vanessa Behrendt, explicitly citing her «political affiliation». The case raises the question of whether ideological criteria can disqualify someone from adopting an animal.

## Fortuna Animali's refusal
The Italian organization **Fortuna Animali** rejected the adoption of a setter dog by **Vanessa Behrendt**, an AfD member of a German regional parliament. According to **Apollo News**, which claims to have the full chat history, the reason given was her «political affiliation».

The refusal turns an adoption into a political affair. There is no record of the shelter offering any further public explanation. Nor of Behrendt filing a formal complaint.

## An AfD lawmaker and adoption criteria
**Behrendt** belongs to **AfD**, Alternative for Germany. The animal was a setter breed dog from Italy. The organization decided not to go through with the handover.

The episode touches on a broader debate: who may adopt, and within what limits. Shelters typically assess homes, income and commitment. Here, the stated filter was not material but political. The debate over the limits of a shelter's right to choose adopters remains open.

**Apollo News** claims to have the full conversation, but does not specify the exact date. There is also no court ruling determining whether the rejection was lawful. Any legal assessment would require knowing the applicable Italian law and all the facts.