What to do when a dog poses a threat to you? PAWS answers

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) on Wednesday advised the public on what to do in case a dog poses a threat to them following reports of a labrador retriever being beaten to death in Camarines Sur.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PAWS executive director Anna Cabrera said concerned citizens should call the city veterinarian office or city pound to capture the threatening dog.

“Ang animal control iyan ay naka-incorporate sa ating mga [local government units] (Animal control is incorporated in our local government units),” Cabrera said.

“So, kapag mga asong gala or posing as a risk to health or property, halimbawa dahil may nangangagat, puwedeng tawagan lang iyong city veterinarian office niyo o city pound. Sila po yung may expertise kung paano hulihin ito,” she added.

(So, when there are stray dogs or posing a risk to health or property, for example because the dog is already biting, you can just call your city veterinarian office or city pound. They are the ones who have the expertise on how to catch it.)

However, if the dog is in the act of attacking a person, Cabrera said they should already defend themselves.

“Unless, yun na nga, actually, in the act na inatake na po kayo at kailangan niyo na pong depensahan ang sarili niyo,” she said.

(Unless, in the act of you are already being attacked, you have to defend yourself.)

In the case of Killua, the three-year-old dog who was beaten to death by a neighbor, Cabrera said the three elements of self-defense are not present in the situation.

These elements are: unlawful aggression; reasonable necessity; and lack of provocation on the part of the person defending themselves.

“Dito sa case na ito, makikita na iyong tatlong elements ng self-defense ay hindi naman present…In this case, puwede namang itawag sa city pound. Over or OA iyong ginawa at hinabol pa iyong aso,” she added.

(In this case, it can be seen that those three elements of self-defense are not present…In this case, the city pound can be called. It was too much or an overreaction and he even chased the dog.)

Due to the killing of the dog, Cabrera the suspect may face up to two years of imprisonment and fine of up to P100,000. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News