Italian animal welfare groups expose neglect and cruelty in dog shelters at Modica and Vasto

In Modica, Sicily, 13 dogs – five adults and eight puppies – were rescued from a deteriorating enclosure at a construction company site. The animals were found in filthy conditions, suffering from dehydration, malnutrition and parasite infestations. Police seized the dogs and a 41‑year‑old man was charged with animal cruelty under articles 544‑ter and 727 of the penal code. The court ordered the dogs to be placed under the custody of the local mayor, as requested by the animal‑rights group Stop Animal Crimes Italia, which criticised the lack of effective oversight by municipal and regional authorities.

A separate case in Vasto, Abruzzo, concerns the newly built municipal dog shelter in Cipraneto, which cost €2.5 million. Volunteers report that the facility, inaugurated a year ago, suffers from serious deficiencies: no shade or adequate water for the animals, crumbling walls and a main gate that has been chained shut for months. Local officials and opposition councilors have called for urgent repairs, describing the situation as "disumanamente inaccettabile" and demanding immediate action to protect the dogs and the staff caring for them.