Horror, dismay, and a great deal of anger : a photo taken in Longobucco , in the province of Cosenza, has sparked outrage online. The image shows the carcass of a medium-sized dog, tied by its neck to a pickup truck . It's unclear from the image whether the animal suffocated while being dragged or was found already dead and then transported that way. What's immediately noticeable, however, is the trail of blood on the asphalt, following the vehicle.

Michela Vittoria Brambilla, MP and president of the Italian League for the Defense of Animals and the Environment, spoke out about the incident, calling it "in any case horrible and unacceptable behavior, which we condemn without any ifs or buts." "It is absolutely essential," she emphasized, "to know the truth. An autopsy must determine the cause of death and establish whether we are dealing with an act of unspeakable cruelty or appalling indifference. In the former case," she added, "it would be yet another shock to the civil conscience of a country that no longer tolerates crimes against animals."

For incidents of this gravity, the Brambilla law carries a penalty of up to four years in prison and a combined fine of up to €60,000. "With our Leidaa, we will fight to shed light on this situation. To this end, we have already filed a formal report with the competent authorities and are ready, should criminal proceedings be initiated, to join the civil action," the MP concluded.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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