Italy celebrates Dachshunds, or "bassotti", with eighth edition of Sausage Walk. Thousands of Dachshund dogs and their owners gathered in cities across Italy on Sunday for Sausage Walk Italia, an annual event now in its eighth edition.   What began as a spontaneous initiative among enthusiasts has grown into the largest collective dachshund parade in the country, transforming online communities into a joyful gathering of families and their four-legged companions.   The 2026 edition saw gatherings organised in nearly every Italian region, from Liguria to Sicily, with the events receiving official patronage from numerous municipal authorities. City by city In Rome, the gathering took place at Villa Doria Pamphilj, with participants joining a circular trail around the park.   Milan's contingent made its way to the Castello Sforzesco, assembling on the lawns of Parco Sempione for the traditional group photograph.   In Caserta, the bassotti departed from Piazza IV Novembre and wound its way to Piazza Carlo III, taking in some of the city's most representative landmarks.   On the island of Sardinia, Cagliari welcomed participants at the amphitheatre of Marina Piccola, from where a panoramic walk along the Lungomare Poetto provided a relaxed morning by the sea.  Format and charity The formula is simple: routes approved by local authorities, safe and suited to the dachshund's characteristically short stride - though open to dogs of all breeds - with group photographs at iconic locations and a convivial close of farewells and exchanged contacts.   Organisers prepared a dedicated kit for participants, complete with the event's bow tie, which changes design with each edition and has become a collector's item.   Part of the proceeds from the sale of the walking kit go to support Rescue Bassotti… e poi più ODV, the charity partner of the initiative, which is dedicated to the rescue and care of dachshunds in difficulty.