Italy outraged at killing of heroic police bloodhound, found dead after eating food laced with nails

The killing of a police bloodhound, who helped find nine people over the course of his career, has outraged Italians and sparked a criminal investigation.

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.

Bruno, 7, 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.”

Bruno, 7, was a bloodhound sniffer-dog.Arcangelo Caressa / via FacebookLawmaker 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.