A 10-month-old dog in the town of Dumangas in Iloilo was shot dead in the middle of a rice field.

The dog, named ‘Butod’ by his owner, was found with a gunshot wound in the shoulder joint and neck.

The dog’s owner, Ernel Dimzon, said ‘Butod’ would always accompany him to his fish pond.

Dimzon said it was one of his men at the pond that heard the gunshot.

“May tao ako dito sa palaisdaan. Pagbalik raw niya, may narinig siyang putok ng baril sa kabilang bahay. Baka raw aso ko iyon. Diyan na siya natagpuan. Ang laki ng bala,” he said.

Dimzon reported the incident to the barangay and had it entered into the police blotter.

He is determined to file charges against the shooter, once identified.

Analyn Dungon, chief of Barangay Ermita, said the barangay does not tolerate animal cruelty.

“Hindi namin tino-tolerate kasi may batas tayong bawal talaga na patayin ang aso,” she said.

Iloilo Province logged several animal cruelty cases recently and the police said these cases are a priority.

“Binibigyan na iyan natin ng priority. It’s because ang Animal Welfare Act is a national law and we are obligated na mag-implement niyan,” said Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, spokesperson of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office.

Clarissa Decena, animal welfare advocate, reminded the public that killing a dog is punishable under the law.

“Bale, Animal Welfare Act, may part na hindi pwedeng manakit at mang-torture ng mga aso. Hindi rin sila dapat pabayaan o i-maltrato,” she said.