Italian forestry police have seized 110 Alaskan Malamutes from a private property in the province of Bologna. Vets found the dogs, 94 adults and 16 puppies, malnourished, dehydrated and living in very poor hygiene. The seizure was reported on 17 October. The owner, who hasn't been named, is under criminal investigation, and the dogs have been moved to safe facilities.

What happened

The Carabinieri Forestali unit in Imola carried out the operation with veterinary staff from the public health department of AUSL Bologna, the local health authority. Bologna prosecutors had ordered the inspection as part of a criminal case opened against the owner last October, according to Il Resto del Carlino and Giornale L'Ora.

The visit was meant to check on four dogs that had already been seized in that earlier case. Once inside, the vets found that conditions didn't meet legal requirements for any of the animals on the site. The Carabinieri then seized the remaining dogs as well.

One of the dogs from the earlier seizure was found dead, and another one wasn't on the property, the reports say. The published figures don't line up perfectly: the articles give 110 dogs in total, but also describe 107 newly seized dogs on top of the original four. None of the reports explains the gap.

Where the dogs are now

Animal welfare groups LAV and ENPA, along with other organizations, helped find places for the dogs in suitable facilities at no cost to the state, according to the reports. The articles don't say whether any of the dogs will be available for adoption, or when.

What we know and don't know yet

We know who carried out the seizure, how many dogs were involved and the condition vets found them in. We don't know the exact offense the owner is being investigated for, because the reports don't name it, and no charges or court dates have been published. The reports also don't include any statement from the owner. Until a court rules, the allegations remain allegations.

Why it matters for animals

Malamutes are big, strong working dogs that need space, plenty of exercise and steady daily care. Keeping more than a hundred of them, puppies included, takes a huge amount of food, water and cleaning, and vets found those basics missing here. The reports don't say why the dogs were kept or whether any were being sold, so we won't guess.

What you can do

If you're thinking about a Malamute or any husky-type dog, start with breed rescues and shelters. If you buy a puppy, ask to see the mother with her litter where they live, ask for vet and vaccination records, and walk away from any seller who won't show you how the dogs are kept.

If you're worried about animals kept in poor conditions, report it rather than stepping in yourself. In Italy, you can contact the Carabinieri or the local veterinary service of the health authority. In Slovenia, report it to the veterinary inspectorate (UVHVVR) or the police on 113. A clear, dated description and photos taken from a public place help investigators act.

Sources