Italian ‘hero’ sniffer dog killed with nail-filled sausages
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Bruno, the heroic Italian sniffer dog, was poisoned in his kennel with sausages filled with nails in what is believed to be a revenge attack.
Hero Sniffer Dog Killed by Nail-Filled Sausages in Italy
Bloodhound Bruno hailed for saving lives, targeted in suspected revenge attack over dog-fighting raids
Taranto, Italy – A celebrated Italian sniffer dog, Bruno, was killed after consuming sausages laced with nails, in what is being described as a targeted act of cruelty possibly linked to his role in dismantling dog fighting rings.
The seven-year-old bloodhound was discovered on Friday morning by his trainer Arcangelo Caressa, inside his kennel at the Endas Search and Rescue Training Centre in Puglia. Bruno had suffered fatal internal bleeding, and investigators say the sausages were deliberately thrown into his enclosure.
Bruno, renowned for locating nine missing persons throughout his career, was once honoured by the Italian prime minister for his exceptional service. His death has sparked national outrage.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the act as “vile, cowardly, and unacceptable,” in a post on X. “Thank you for all you have done, Bruno,” she wrote.
Trainer Vows Justice
Trainer Arcangelo Caressa, who described Bruno as a “brother,” said he was certain he knew who was behind the killing and vowed, “You will pay for it.” He added that Bruno had likely been targeted due to his role in exposing illegal dog fighting operations.
“Today I died with you,” he wrote on Facebook. “You fought your whole life to save humans, and now it was a human who did this to you.”
Caressa also revealed he had been receiving death threats in recent weeks and told Corriere della Sera that the killing was not random, describing it as a “vile attack done for money and revenge.”
Investigation Underway
Italian police and prosecutors have launched a joint investigation, and authorities have not ruled out criminal retaliation as a motive.
Animal rights advocate and Italian MP Michela Vittoria Brambilla urged authorities to fully prosecute those responsible. She called for the maximum sentence under Italy’s recently strengthened animal protection laws, which allow up to four years in prison and a €60,000 fine for animal killings involving torture.
“We owe it to this noble animal,” Brambilla said, describing Bruno’s death as “long and painful.”
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