Outrage as puppies left to die of thirst, heatstroke on baking terrace

The death of four puppies left on terrace in the Sicilian town of Sciacca with no water or protection from the baking sun amid the current heatwave has caused widespread outrage across Italy. The puppies were part of a litter of six left on the terrace along with three other dogs - their mother, and two male animals. A horrific video circulating on the Internet shows the situation rescuers faced, with the puppies crying in distress and the mother desperately moving to and fro unable to help them. "It was one of the most hellish days of my life and not just because of the 43-degree heat, but because of the cries of puppies that were literally baking under the scorching sun," said Adriana Montalbano, the official from Sciacca's Stray Animal Control office and volunteer with the Balzoo non-pr