English setter deprived of food and medical care seized by OIPA animal control officers in Italy.
“How long hasn’t the dog been eating?” The silence following the question from OIPA’s volunteers in Modena, Italy, to the owner of an English setter locked inside a sheet metal kennel full of encrusted faeces was eloquent.

Left in a state of abandonment for at least 6 months inside a sheet metal kennel, an inadequate material to guarantee protection from extreme temperatures and potentially dangerous for his safety, the dog was found without food, a proper bedding, and forced to lie down on the concrete in direct contact with his faeces and urine.

In the area around the kennel, the grass grew so thick and high, with numerous nettle plants and no signs of trampling, an aspect which confirmed the fact that no one had taken care of the animal for some time.

Underweight, with prominent bones, dull coat and signs of prolonged confinement and poor mobility, the dog was infested with fleas, agitated and eager to go out, he stood on two legs seeking physical contact, showing symptoms of prolonged isolation over time. The dog did not have health records and was microchipped to someone else.

After the seizure, the setter was taken to an affiliated dog shelter waiting to begin the temporary foster care process with a family who truly wants to take care of him.

The owner was charged with animal cruelty and abandonment.

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