‘Abandoned’ dog that had just given birth, clubbed after biting children in Laguna

A dog that had just given birth, and had bitten four children in San Pedro, Laguna was hit repeatedly by a barangay tanod and residents including a 12-year-old boy.

According to Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras,” the boy was one of those who were bitten by the dog that reportedly had been abandoned by its owners.

The video of the incident which has since gone viral showed two men, including a staff of Barangay San Antonio trying to pull the dog from out of the brush.

When they caught the dog, a man wearing a pink top hit the animal with what looked like a golf club.

“Nakita ko po pinsan ko na nagpapalipad ng saranggola. Nilapitan ko po hindi ko nakita ‘yung aso. Bigla na lang akong sinakmal,” said the boy who hit the dog. 

“Napahiga ako. Kung hindi ko naiwas ang ibang kagat niya meron din siguro akong kagat sa mukha,” he added.

(I saw my cousin flying a kite so approached him. I didn’t see the dog. It suddenly bit me. If I didn’t shield myself, it would’ve bit me on the face.)

“Nadala po ako ng galit ko kasi po nasaktan po ako,” he said. 

(I was angry because I was hurt.)

His mother apologized for what the 12-year-old did but asked who would shoulder the treatment of the bite. 

“Bata naman po iyan. Hindi niya alam ang ginawa niya pero alam kong mali yun kaya humingi ako ng tawad. May alaga din po kaming aso. Hindi po kami salbahe sa hayop,” she said. 

(He’s just a child. He doesn’t know what he is doing but I know that was wrong so I apologize. We also have a pet dog. We’re not cruel to animals.)

“Hinihingian po kami sa private ng P5,000 para sa first vaccine niya eh wala naman po kaming pera. Kalalabas lang namin sa ospital. Namomroblema pa nga ako sa isa ko pang pasyente ang asawa ko wala kaming pambili ng pagkain,” she added. 

(The private clinic was asking P5,000 for his first vaccine. We don’t have money. My husband just came out of the hospital. We don’t even have cash for food.)

Barangay officials came in defense of their colleague and explained the dog had been abandoned by its owners. They were conducting rescue services when the incident occurred.

“Nakita nya po yung aso. Hinuli nya po sinilo sa hindi inaasahan naglusuban itong mga tao sila ang pumalo pero itong ating tanod walang intensyon saktan,” said Barangay Peace and Order Department Head Marcial Malate Jr. 

(He was just rescuing the dog when the residents came and hurt it.)

“Isa-isa na po naming pinapatawag yung mga pumalo. Katunayan nga po nanggaling na kami sa PNP meron na po silang detalye sa PNP,” Malate said. 

(We summoned those who hit the dog. Their details are already submitted to the PNP.)

Animal rights group Biyaya Animal Care, for its part, said it will file charges against the men in the video. It also took custody of the dog and named it “Justice”.

The organization likewise extended aid for the victimized children including free anti-rabies virus shots. 

“There’s Republic Act 8485 Sec. 9 stipulates this cruelty towards animals even if a dog bites you, you must not cause any harm,” said Biyaya Animal Care Rina Ortiz. 

“We are lacking in education on how to take care of animals. Ibig sabihin, when you were older or younger ang alam natin na kakapanganak lang nyan huwag nating lapitan (it means when a dog just birthed, we should tell the public not to engage with it) ,” she added. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News