Overview

• Judicial authorities launched an inquiry this week for animal death with aggravating circumstances of cruelty and premeditation after Bruno was found fatally poisoned on July 4 at the Talsano training center.
• Investigators are combing security-camera footage and gathering witness testimony but have not yet identified or detained any suspects.
• Bruno, a seven-year-old Belgian Bloodhound, saved nine people in rescue missions across Italy and received a personal award from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in 2022.
• Prime Minister Meloni denounced the killing as “vile and cowardly,” and Senate President Ignazio La Russa called it “barbaric and uncivilized,” urging a swift clarification of the facts.
• Owner Arcangelo Caressa alleges the poisoning was a retaliatory attack against his longstanding anti-trafficking and animal-welfare activism and vows to seek justice under Italy’s animal cruelty laws.