Five dogs with bones protruding through the skin, including four puppies and an adult female, eleven rabbits locked up in tiny enclosures and four goats were seized in a city in Sardinia by OIPA Italy’s animal control officers. Another dog, kept on a very short chain, was found dead from starvation.

The owner was immediately reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Cagliari for animal cruelty and abandonment, according to article 544 ter and article 727 of the Italian Penal Code. OIPA’s operation saved the lives of these animals. Rescued dogs are now in a shelter waiting to be soon adopted, while goats and rabbits were taken to a sanctuary. Unfortunately, three of the four puppies died from parvovirus shortly after.

OIPA team coordinator in the province of Cagliari stated: “It was a heartbreaking operation. The dead dog didn’t even have a name, and no one in the family spared him a glance while we were there. He faced a terrible end. He was slowly consumed until his death. Left without food to exhaust himself and then die in everyone’s indifference. None of the animals had access to food and water, it was sickening and I’ll never forget it”.