ENCI: Constance, passion, love for the Italian breeds has prompted the birth and growth of the ENCI, whose goal has remained unchanged: to promote Italian dog breeds in the world.
The history of the Enci, the National Body of Italian dog lovers, is an ancient story since the organization was recognized in all respects by the State in the now distant 1882. Thanks to the work of the ENCI Italy has been able to reach in years of frenetic activity, those who are rightly the leaders of the European dog world, but also the world one.
The idea of founding the association came to a group of illustrious lovers of dog breeds: Count Carlo Borromeo, Prince Emilio Belgioioso d'Este, Ferdinando Delor, Carlo Biffi and Luigi Radice who in fact inaugurated a company that had as its intent the improvement of Italian dog breeds. At the time of its birth, the company had 31 members.
To catalog the breeds, the origins book was created, in which the Bracco Italiano born in 1875 was first inserted. The fame of the association grows rapidly if you consider that already in 1897 the statute was modified and in 1904 the members were 1033. These were the years of the first dog shows held in Milan, but also in Turin, during which often unknown examples of dogs were presented: 400 species were also reached.
For greater contact with the public, the first official magazine of the Kennel Club was inaugurated in the same years and after a few decades, in 1926, it was decided to request that the legal personality of the association be recognized. Perhaps without the ENCI, the awakening for the interest in dog lovers in Italy would have been late and lazy, instead it was precocious and active if you consider that already in 1929 the association received 5.000 lire from the government, at the time a figure considerable.
In the meantime, numerous associations and groups of dog lovers had come to be created in the town, which in 1930 were recognized as collective members, who joined the Enci in their intentions. The war will slow down the action of the group that will approve various livestock demonstrations only after the conclusion of the clashes, compiling the first regulations and the first aptitude tests.
The growth in recent years is exponential and the interest of the country in the dog industry becomes shared and common: the book of the origins has more than 8.700 members and in 1950 the first major international sporting competition was inaugurated with English pointing dogs as protagonists. .
Kinology and cinotechnology take on a strong scientific connotation, university courses are organized and interesting manuals are published that are still worthy of note today.
The exhibitions and work tests continue to increase even in the sixties and in the seventies of the twentieth century the federated nations of the International Cynology Federation provide that the genealogical certificates that are issued in the different nations, however, have a distinctive sign in common.
Meanwhile, members, demonstrations, tests of works and exhibitions are increasing and the ENCI publishes a monthly periodical that has made history in the sector entitled "Our dogs" and sent to all members of the group.
Through courses, seminars, researches, studies with a practical zootechnical address and world-wide exhibitions, the Enci has earned prestige and fame, reaching a very high level in breeding techniques. Of course, what is intended to all intents and purposes as a scientific mission aimed at selective activity continues today with the creation of what are called dog areas in which dogs are trained and bred for the practice of hunting sport or for inclusion in the staff of the Civil Protection.
Among the new fields of interest is the scientific selection of all those natural attitudes that make a dog a good herd animal, indispensable for pastoral activity. Another field of action is that of improving the rescue skills of dogs that offer rescue services both on land and in the water and of dogs accompanying the handicapped or collaborating with the police and carabinieri.
In the technical-scientific field, a center for the conservation of germplasm of some monitored subjects is being created to also explore the topic of artificial fertilization.
In short, a series of activities all aimed at the active inclusion of four-legged friends in human society although the ultimate goal of the ENCI is always the same: the enhancement and promotion of Italian dog breeds in the world.