A pregnant dog lost an eye after it was allegedly and intentionally run over by a van in San Mateo, Rizal.
According to Nico Waje’s report on “Saksi” on Monday night, CCTV footage showed a van driving in reverse in Barangay Sta. Ana while a brown dog was seen lying by the roadside on Nov. 1.
Despite seeing the dog in front of him, the van driver went straight ahead and ran over the dog.
The van stopped, drove in reverse and then drove forward once more as the injured dog shook uncontrollably. The report added that the van driver stopped before leaving as if observing the dog.
Bea Cabariban, the owner of “Mama Dog,” said her pet was apparently able to escape their house as there were no people at home at that time. The dog usually just stayed inside the house.
“Sobrang layo pa lang lang niya since galing siya sa highway, nandun na si Mama Dog. Parang sinadya niyang gulungan. Ang masama pa, doon sa mismong ulo niya mismo ginulungan si Mama Dog,” Cabariban said.
(Mama Dog was already there when the van arrived, which came from the highway. It seems that he deliberately ran over her. It’s bad enough that he ran over Mama Dog and hit her head.)
She added that many trucks usually pass through their street but there were no reported accidents involving dogs.
Mama Dog’s eye swelled and popped out as a result of the incident, and had to be removed to avoid further infection. Mama Dog is also pregnant but the incident did not affect her pregnancy.
Cabariban filed a police report and is coordinating with the Land Transportation Office to locate the driver, as they were able to take note of the van’s plate number.
According to the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), the driver may face charges for violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act if it is proven that he deliberately ran over the hapless dog.
The driver may face a one-year prison term, a P50,000 fine, and the possibility of having his driver’s license revoked.
The AKF added that it is also willing to file charges against the van driver. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA Integrated News
