A stray dog named “Tiger” tragically died on Wednesday morning after being struck by a meat vendor at a public market in Subic, allegedly for stealing meat from a stall.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. when the vendor, angered by the dog’s actions, struck it with a bolo. Tiger succumbed to the injuries shortly after the attack.
Following the incident, the vendor was arrested and is currently in custody at the Subic Municipal Police Station. She has been charged under Republic Act No. 8485, also known as the Animal Welfare Act of the Philippines. This law makes it illegal to torture, maltreat, or kill animals in a manner not permitted by law. Offenders face fines ranging from ₱100,000 to ₱500,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.
The dog’s death has sparked widespread outrage from animal welfare groups and local residents. Susan Espinosa from the Bataan Home for Abused and Stray Animals condemned the act, expressing gratitude for the swift actions taken by local authorities, including Barangay Chairman Nelson Dela Paz and Kagawad Renato Concepcion.
“Tiger didn’t deserve to die like that. There are proper ways to deal with stray animals. Violence is never one of them,” Espinosa said.
Tiger, a friendly stray known to wander around the market, had been a familiar sight in the area.
Animal rights groups are urging the public to report similar incidents to the Bureau of Animal Industry, local agricultural offices, or organizations such as PAWS and PETA.