A man who butchered his own pet dog in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City is facing charges for violating Republic Act (RA) 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act.
The incident was caught on camera by a witness who uploaded the video on social media.
The witness said the dog was tied to a parked passenger jeepney and was being hit in the head until it died.
“Hindi ko matiis na ganoon pala ang ginagawa sa kanila bago katayin," the witness said.
Biyaya Animal Care, an animal rights group, saw the video online.
Rita Ortiz, Chief Executive Officer of Biyaya Animal Care, said sacrificing a dog is a known practice in the Cordillera region. However, butchering a dog for a graduation party is unacceptable.
"Hindi namin ito palalagpasin dahil sa nakuhang ebidensiya," Ortiz said.
Benjamin Magalong, Mayor of Baguio City, said the dog meat trade activity in the city has already decreased significantly.
"Meron tayong batas na sinusunod tungkol sa animal welfare," he said.
The man is in the custody of the Baguio City Police, as of this writing, and is facing a possible two-year prison sentence with fines reaching P100,000.