They died after hours of agony under the sun , trapped in the cramped space of a terrace of an uninhabited building in the historic center of Sciacca, in the province of Agrigento. Four puppies did not survive the extreme temperatures , which reached 43 degrees Celsius, without water and sheltered only by a small sheet metal roof. The case ended up in the Public Prosecutor's Office: the animals' owner was reported by the municipal police for animal cruelty and killing of pets. Eight dogs were on the terrace, left exposed to the heat for hours.

The National League for the Defense of the Dog, through MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli, announced its intention to file a lawsuit. Meanwhile , a video showing the mother dog fretting on the terrace while hearing her puppies' cries has gone viral on social media. Animal rights activist Enrico Rizzi also weighed in on the matter, criticizing the current punishment system: "The person responsible, even if found guilty, under the current law will not serve a single day in prison, because the penalties remain below the punishable threshold."

According to Rizzi, stricter regulations are needed: "We need to stop telling Italians fairy tales: prison remains a mirage for those who kill animals."

(Unioneonline/vf)