Rome promotes adoption of dogs from kennels with red-carpet event.

Rome's city-run kennels will stage a dog parade on Sunday 16 February as part of efforts to give shelter dogs a day out and increase their chances of finding a forever home.

The event will feature 10 dogs from the Marconi kennels and will be held at Parco Riccardi, in Largo Beato Placido Riccardi (in front of the San Paolo Metro B station), at 10.30.

Titled Il canile va in città (The kennel goes to town), the event also offers dog owners the opportunity to have their dogs microchipped and registered for free.

At the city's last dog parade, held in November, hundreds of people showed up to offer their support.

Rome's guarantor for animals, Patrizia Prestipino, who is responsible for raising awareness for animal protection, said the event was a success and that five dogs had been picked for adoption.

"We had no doubts" - Prestipino said - "because when you present dogs that spend their lives locked in cages you can only have a response of affection and love".

Prestipino emphasised that "the really important thing" was the large crowd who turned up to applaud the dogs "who paraded on the red carpet like real stars."

• How to adopt a dog in Rome

Prestipino said the goal is to promote "responsible adoptions" of dogs housed in city shelters, stressing: "It is never too early or too late to open your heart to the wonderful experience of adopting an animal".

The city says the initiative will be repeated at regular intervals. For more details see city website.

Photos Roma Capitale