Animals abused and killed, run over, poisoned, lost, found lifeless on the street. Calling them carcasses would not guarantee them the dignity they deserve, so how to name them? The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production of the Federico II University of Naples asked this question, which – as part of the “Animals without a name” project – turned to the Accademia della Crusca to settle the question.

Unnamed animals

It is called “Animals without a name” and it is an initiative that was recently presented at the Aula Magna of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production in Naples .

Born with the aim of restoring dignity to the many lost lives of domestic animals victims of abuse or adverse circumstances, it is promoted by Dipsa – Diagnostic Service of Pathology and Animal Health , in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary and Animal Production and the Italian Society of Sciences. forensic veterinary of the Federico II University , by the Order of Veterinary Doctors of Salerno and fromLaboratory of Anthropology and Forensic Odontology of the University of Milan .

The project consists in finding and making available to interested parties as much information as possible about the “nameless animals”.

In fact, at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Naples, animals that have died from natural or provoked causes  are subjected to autopsy and necropsy , with results that can go beyond scientific analysis: investigations, for example, can offer conclusive clues about the causes . of death by mistreatment and killing .

As for cases of loss, it can instead get totrack down the owner, allowing him to know the fate of his four-legged companion and to keep his memory .

Not carcasses, but corpses

For a long time, words such as carcasses  or similar appellations have been used to refer to the lifeless bodies of domestic animals , as the existence in the Municipality of Naples of a “carrion office” has for many years underlined .

Names that appeared discriminatory and disrespectful, in the eyes of the work team of the “Animals without a name” project.

The decision to consult the experts of the Accademia della Crusca in this regard derives precisely from this evaluation and from the desire to find a convincing alternative, capable of restoring the right importance to those living beings that accompany the lives of an ever-increasing number of people. and families .

“They were defined as ‘carcasses’, but it was a term used improperly, ” Orlando Paciello , professor of Pathological Anatomy at the Federico II University of Naples and President of the Salerno Veterinary Order , told Repubblica . ” We called the specialists of the Accademia della Crusca asking them about the word to use, and we were told ‘corpses’, just like for us humans “. 

The opportunity to remember

In addition to doing justice to the vexed animals by obtaining all possible information regarding the circumstances of death, the primary objective of the project is to provide interested parties with the opportunity to remember their four-legged companion. 

” The aim is to give an identity to the many, too many unidentified corpses found on the national territory ” explained Professor Paciello ” In recent years, sensitivity towards animals has grown and with it the commitment of institutions and associations in Many look for their animals for years that have escaped or lost, but also stolen, sold, made to disappear.When they are found dead, very often those who had lost them do not find out.We will keep a memoir of that dog , that cat … a bit of fur in a box, and if the owner recognizes it, he will be able to remember him. We will give it a name and not a number because the name brings people closer to those who do not have one, and we hope that this will also move towards a more aware care culture . ” 

An action that aims to build awareness around the theme and that it will be facilitated by the use of a special app , designed to allow communication with the Veterinary Department and allow users to stay updated on the findings.