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New York Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
A Beloved Bloodhound, a Fatal Treat: A Gruesome Murder Mystery in Italy
It was a call that Arcangelo Caressa, a professional dog trainer in southern Italy, had never imagined he'd get. Early one morning last week, one of his staff members went to open the kennel where Mr. Caressa's 6-year-old bloodhound slept at night. The pup, Bruno, was lying on the ground, dead. Grief was quickly compounded by horror when it became clear that there had been foul play: In the kennel near Bruno's body, Mr. Caressa discovered treats and sausages stuffed with nails. Bruno had apparently gorged on the treats, which had been designed to kill him. 'If they had done it to me, I would have suffered less than how much I suffered with the dog, they knew this would affect me deeply,' said Mr. Caressa, who runs the canine training section of Endas, a national volunteer association, and operates a public animal rescue organization in Taranto, a coastal city in the Puglia region. Bruno's killing has prompted a national outpouring of support and grief, even from the highest office in the land. 'Heartbreaking news. A vile, cowardly, unacceptable act,' Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media, posting a photograph of her with Bruno. 'Thank you for all you have done, Bruno.' The killing has the trappings of a noir: A beloved victim, nationally recognized for his service. A cunning plot. And a justice-seeking survivor in Mr. Caressa. 'You killed him, making him suffer for hours,' Mr. Caressa wrote in a Facebook post addressing Bruno's killer. The page has since been filled with tributes and pleas to find the perpetrators. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
ABC News
09-07-2025
- ABC News
Outrage as Italian rescue dog, Bruno, killed with nail-laced dog food
The horrific killing of a police bloodhound, who helped rescue nine people over the course of his sniffer-dog career, has outraged Italians and sparked a criminal investigation to find his killers. Bruno, a seven-year-old, 88-kilogram bloodhound, was found dead on Friday morning, local time, in his shed in southern Taranto. His trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, said he had been fed bits of dog food laced with nails. In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Caressa said he suspected the killing was revenge against him — not Bruno — for his volunteer animal rescue work. "It was deliberately a horrific act to cause the dog intense suffering because feeding him bites filled with nails means tearing apart his insides," he told the Associated Press. "Tearing apart his oesophagus and internal organs and causing excruciating pain." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who was photographed with Bruno after one of his heroic rescues, said that his slaughter was "vile, cowardly, unacceptable". Politician Michael Vittoria Brambilla, a longtime animal rights activist, filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors under a new law that she helped push through stiffening penalties for anyone who killed or mistreated an animal. The editor of the daily newspaper Il Giornale, Vittorio Feltri, voiced outrage, saying Bruno had done more civic good in Italy than most Italian citizens. Mr Caressa said that he had told prosecutors that he suspected that he was the ultimate target of Bruno's killers, and that Bruno was killed "to get to me". Mr Caressa runs a volunteer public animal rescue organisation, ENDAS, that among other things rescues dogs from illegal dogfights. He said the service used to be run by for-profit firms and he suspected that his competitors were behind Bruno's killing. "In recent months, we have received threats, acts of persecution, defamation and slander from certain individuals who have already been investigated in the past and are known to the judicial authorities, who have been trying in every way to take over this rescue service by despicable means," Mr Caressa added. The new animal protection law, known as the Brambilla law, went into effect on July 1 and calls for up to four years in prison and a 60,000-euro ($AU 107, 815) fine, with the stiffest penalties applied if the mistreatment is committed in front of children or is filmed and disseminated online. Mr Feltri said the penalty should be even greater than four years, saying animals must be respected "especially when they behave heroically" as Bruno had. Mr Caressa said Bruno might have appeared clumsy and overweight, but was powerful, strong and dedicated to his job. "He was a giant," Mr Caressa said. "When he went out on a search and you put his harness on, there was no-one else like him. "He would set off, smell the person we were looking for and run like a train until we found them." Officially, his record stands at nine people found: Five people who were alive and four whose bodies were recovered, he said. "But the motto for us rescuers is always the same: Bring the missing person home in any case, because there is always someone among their relatives who is looking for that missing person," he said AP
The Province
08-07-2025
- The Province
Italy outraged at killing of heroic police bloodhound, found dead after eating food laced with nails
Published Jul 08, 2025 • 2 minute read This photo taken Jan. 11, 2025 in Taranto, southern Italy, and made available Tuesday, July 8, 2025, shows Bruno, a 7-year-old bloodhound who was found dead Friday, July 4, in his shed in Taranto after he was fed bits of dog food laced with nails, his trainer Arcangelo Caressa said. Photo by Claudia Aloisio / AP Photo ROME — The horrific killing of a police bloodhound, who helped find nine people over the course of his sniffer-dog career, has outraged Italians and sparked a criminal investigation to find his killers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Bruno, a 7-year-old bloodhound, was found dead Friday morning in his shed in southern Taranto. His trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, said that he had been fed bits of dog food laced with nails. In a social media post Tuesday, Caressa urged police to 'find the killers before I do.' Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was photographed with Bruno after one of his heroic rescues, said that his slaughter was 'vile, cowardly, unacceptable.' Lawmaker Michael Vittoria Brambilla, a longtime animal rights activist, filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors under a new law that she helped push through stiffening penalties for anyone who kills or mistreats an animal. The editor of the Il Giornale daily, Vittorio Feltri , voiced outrage, saying Bruno had done more civic good in Italy than most citizens. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This photo made available Tuesday, July 8, 2025 and taken Friday Jan. 4, 2025, shows bits of dog food laced with nails that were fed to a police dog, the 7-year-old bloodhound Bruno, killing him, his trainer Arcangelo Caressa said. Photo by Arcangelo Caressa / AP Photo Caressa said that he had told prosecutors that he suspected that he was the ultimate target of Bruno's killers, and that Bruno was killed 'to get to me.' He cited his efforts at rescuing dogs that were being used for illegal dogfights, saying that he had already received threats for his work. He said he had given police investigators the names of two people who he suspected. The new animal protection law, known as the Brambilla law, went into effect on July 1 and calls for up to four years in prison and a 60,000-euro (around a US$70,000) fine, with the stiffest penalties applied if the mistreatment is committed in front of children or is filmed and disseminated online. Feltri said that the penalty should be even greater than four years, saying animals must be respected 'especially when they behave heroically' as Bruno had. Caressa said that during his career, Bruno had found five people alive during rescues and had located the bodies of four people who had died, but whose bodies were able to be returned to their loved ones. News Vancouver Canucks News Life Deals
Toronto Star
08-07-2025
- Toronto Star
Italy outraged at killing of police bloodhound, found dead after eating food laced with nails
ROME (AP) — The horrific killing of a police bloodhound, who helped find nine people over the course of his sniffer-dog rescue career, has outraged Italians and sparked a criminal investigation to find his killers. Bruno, a 7-year-old, 88-kilogram (195-pound) bloodhound, was found dead Friday morning in his shed in southern Taranto. His trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, said he had been fed bits of dog food laced with nails. In an interview Tuesday, Caressa said he suspected the killing was revenge against him — not Bruno — for his volunteer animal rescue work.
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Italy outraged at killing of heroic police dog ‘given food laced with nails'
The killing of a police bloodhound who helped find nine people over the course of his sniffer-dog rescue career has outraged Italians and sparked a criminal investigation to find his killers. Bruno, a seven-year-old, 88-kilogram (195-pound) bloodhound, was found dead on Friday morning in his shed in southern Taranto. Advertisement His trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, said he had been fed bits of dog food laced with nails. Bits of dog food laced with nails that were fed to a police dog Bruno, killing him, his trainer Arcangelo Caressa said (Arcangelo Caressa/AP) In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Caressa said he suspected the killing was revenge against him — not Bruno — for his volunteer animal rescue work. 'It was deliberately a horrific act to cause the dog intense suffering, because feeding him bites filled with nails means tearing apart his insides, tearing apart his esophagus and internal organs and causing excruciating pain,' Mr Caressa told The Associated Press. Premier Giorgia Meloni, who was photographed with Bruno after one of his heroic rescues, said that his slaughter was 'vile, cowardly, unacceptable'. Advertisement Legislator Michael Vittoria Brambilla, a long-time animal rights activist, filed a criminal complaint with prosecutors under a new law that she helped push through stiffening penalties for anyone who kills or mistreats an animal. The editor of the Il Giornale daily, Vittorio Feltri, voiced outrage, saying Bruno had done more civic good in Italy than most Italian citizens. Mr Caressa said that he had told prosecutors that he suspected that he was the ultimate target of Bruno's killers, and that Bruno was killed 'to get to me'. Mr Caressa runs a volunteer public animal rescue organisation, Endas, that among other things rescues dogs from illegal dogfights. Advertisement He said the service used to be run by for-profit firms and said he suspected that his competitors were behind Bruno's killing. 'In recent months, we have received threats, acts of persecution, defamation and slander from certain individuals who have already been investigated in the past and are known to the judicial authorities, who have been trying in every way to take over this rescue service by despicable means,' Mr Caressa told The Associated Press. Dog trainer Arcangelo Caressa holding his seven-year-old bloodhound Bruno (Claudia Aloisio/AP) The new animal protection law, known as the Brambilla law, went into effect on July 1 and calls for up to four years in prison and a 60,000-euro (around £51,000) fine, with the stiffest penalties applied if the mistreatment is committed in front of children or is filmed and disseminated online. Mr Feltri said that the penalty should be even greater than four years, saying animals must be respected 'especially when they behave heroically' as Bruno had. Advertisement Mr Caressa said that Bruno might have appeared clumsy and overweight, but was powerful, strong and dedicated to his job. 'He was a giant,' said Mr Caressa. 'When he went out on a search and you put his harness on, there was no one else like him. 'He would set off, smell the person we were looking for and run like a train until we found them.' Officially, his record stands at nine people found – five people who were alive and four whose bodies were recovered, he said. Advertisement 'But the motto for us rescuers is always the same: Bring the missing person home in any case, because there is always someone among their relatives who is looking for that missing person,' he said.
