“Cucina Amore” host denies involvement in dog deaths

Damian Mandola, cookbook author, restaurateur and host of the former PBS show Cucina Amore, is embroiled in a neighborhood dispute in Driftwood, Texas, that may have escalated into the death of four dogs, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Mandola said three Swiss Mountain Dogs belonging to his neighbor, Jeff Maddox, had entered Mandola’s yard recently and killed his poodle. Then June 30 Maddox’s dogs went missing; their bodies were found near Mandola’s property. The cause of death is impossible to determine due to damage from buzzards. Damian’s wife Trina Mandola said the family denies any involvement.