A policeman based in this northern province faces a two-year jail sentence and is likely to lose his job for killing a chained dog and allegedly aiming his gun at its owner. Senior Superintendent Pedro Danguilan, the provincial police director, said administrative and criminal charges have already been filed against PO3 Juan Segundo of Santa Fe Police for violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. Segundo earned the ire of animal lovers after a video footage of the dog he shot was shown last week over GMA News' prime time newscast “24 Oras.” Animal rights advocate and Nueva Vizcaya-based youth leader Early Joy Salunat told GMAnews.TV that Segundo should get the punishment he deserves not only for killing the dog but also for allegedly using his uniform to sow fear among residents. “Shooting a chained dog in broad daylight and in front of people and school children already makes me sick, but threatening its owner with a gun . . . it's revolting,” she said. Under the Animal Welfare Act, the killing of any animal other than cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, carabao and horse is punishable by imprisonment of not less than six months or not more than two two years, a maximum fine of P5, 000, or both.
