(18th January 2013)

Vast lands where a great number of animals (horses, donkeys and cows) are left to themselves, without food, at times without even water, without shelter and in precarious health conditions. Many of them dead from hardship: the last three died at the beginning of January, starved and frozen.

This is what we found during our first inspection on January 6th, following a number of reports. A few days later we returned with Edoardo Stoppa and the film crew of the well-known TV show Striscia la Notizia, to discover other highly disturbing facts: for example, an entire hillside full of bones. This is where weak or sick horses are left to die.

Responsible for all this is an 83-year-old man who uses animals to occupy and acquire land, and who has been intimidating his fellow citizens for years, to the point where the people that have sent us reports and photos are literally terrified of possible retaliation.

Even before Striscia’s piece, we had sent an urgent exposé to NAS (Nucleo Antisofisticazioni e Sanità - anti-adulteration and health group) and to the Ministry of Health’s task force. Meetings are now being held to decide how to help the animals during this emergency, which is not easy due to logistical and bureaucratic reasons, since formally no case file has been opened with the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Our legal office is preparing to press charges, and we are attempting to determine the responsibilities of the authorities – first of all, the National Health Service, the Mayors and the Municipal Police Force - who have allowed this to happen.

We will keep you informed in the days to come on further developments in this incredible story.