Bruno the bloodhound murdered with nails in food, sparking outrage
- Bruno, a 7-year-old police bloodhound in Italy, was found dead after eating food laced with nails.
- His trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, believes this was a targeted attack against him, connected to his anti-dogfighting efforts.
- The incident has sparked outrage, leading to a criminal investigation and calls for justice under a new animal protection law.
In Italy, the brutal slaying of a police bloodhound named Bruno has ignited widespread outrage and led to a criminal investigation. Bruno was a 7-year-old bloodhound who served in Taranto, southern Italy, for many years, assisting in various rescue operations. He is credited with locating five living individuals and discovering four deceased persons, ensuring their families could lay them to rest. On a fateful Friday morning, Bruno was discovered dead in his shed, having ingested dog food that contained nails, prompting a disgusted response from his trainer, Arcangelo Caressa. Caressa, who has a history of confronting illegal dogfighting operations, firmly believes that there is more to Bruno's death than merely an act of cruelty; he suspects it was a targeted attack against him. On social media, Caressa made a passionate plea for the police to apprehend those responsible, stating, "find the killers before I do." Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned the act as "vile, cowardly, unacceptable," while animal rights activist lawmaker Michela Vittoria Brambilla filed a criminal complaint under new legislation aimed at tougher penalties for animal cruelty, often referred to as the Brambilla law. The law was recently enacted on July 1 and stipulates prison sentences of up to four years and significant fines for animal mistreatment, particularly if the abuse is done in front of children or distributed online. In the wake of Bruno's murder, many prominent figures have expressed outrage, calling for justice and respect for animals that have performed heroic acts, like Bruno. Caressa emphasized that Bruno was not just a dog but his devoted companion, referencing the emotional bond they shared and the threats he had previously faced for his involvement in challenging the dark world of dogfighting. The need for accountability and justice continues to resonate within the community, highlighting a deep-seated need for humane treatment of animals in society. It remains a pertinent reminder of the dangers faced by those who work to protect animals from cruelty and the lengths to which some may go to silence such advocates.