Bruno (dog)
Italian sniffer dog (died 2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bruno (born 2017 or 2018; died 4 July 2025) was a bloodhound who was hailed as a hero for finding nine missing people during his career as a police sniffer dog,[1] and was once honoured by Italy's prime minister. Bruno was found dead on 4 July 2025 after being fed a sausage filled with nails.[2]
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris (dog) |
|---|---|
| Breed | bloodhound |
| Sex | male |
| Died | (aged 7) |
| Cause of death | Canicide |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Occupation | Police dog |
Police service
Over the course of Bruno's life, he received multiple awards for his service.[3] He was best known for finding missing children and patients with Alzheimer's disease.[1] On 15 July, 2024 Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, awarded Bruno for his work[citation needed]
Death
Bruno was found dead on 4 July 2025 after being fed a sausage filled with nails.[2] In an interview with the Associated Press, the dog's trainer, Arcangelo Caressa, hypothesized that the killing was revenge for his work rescuing animals from dog-fighting rings.[4]
On 5 July 2025, Meloni wrote a post on X expressing her sadness about his passing, calling the culprit of his murder 'vile', 'cowardly', and 'unacceptable.'[5][3] Journalist Caterina Iannaci for Corriere di Siena wrote that violence against dogs had been on the rise in Italy in the years leading up to Bruno's killing.[6] A 2025 law spearheaded by and named after legislator Michela Vittoria Brambilla increased criminal penalties for animal cruelty in Italy,[4] and prosecutors investigated its applicability in Bruno's case.[1]