Court fines man P20,000 for shooting dog in 2009

MANILA, Philippines —A man who shot and wounded a black female dog two years ago has been convicted by a municipal trial court in Taytay, Rizal province, and ordered to pay a fine and damages worth P20,000.

The conviction of Carlos Gozum, 55, was seen as a victory by  the owners of the dog named “Aimee.”

“She’s no different from us. Kinakain ni Aimee kung ano ang kinakain namin (Aimee eats what we are eating),” Aileen Tuazon, a retired Taytay municipal employee, said in a phone interview.

In a six-page decision dated January 24, Judge Wilfredo Tamola of the Taytay Municipal Trial Court found Gozum guilty of violating RA 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998. He ordered the accused to pay a fine of P5,000 and the actual damages worth P15,238.

The Tuazons’ son John Joseph claimed the shooting happened around 11 a.m. of February 5, 2009 while he was resting inside the house.

Upon hearing a gunshot, he peeped through the door and saw their neighbor Gozum standing in front of the dog’s cage and holding a pistol.

The dog, on the other hand, was wailing in pain while its head was covered in blood.

When he felt Gozum had sensed his presence, John Joseph quickly hid inside the house and called the police.

Gozum was arrested on the same day and detained at the Taytay police station for the next five days. The dog, on the other hand, survived despite sustaining a gunshot wound between its eyes.

Aileen suspected that Gozum tried to kill their dog when he thought his complaints about their dog’s stink reaching his house went unheeded.

Gozum’s daughter told the court her father, “a peace-loving man,” did not own a gun and, therefore, could have not shot the dog.

Gozum was at the kitchen preparing their lunch the time the shooting took place, according to her.

Judge Tamola, however, found the accused’s alibi and denial as weak, while he gave weight to the statement of John Joseph, saying it was corroborated by one neighbor who also saw Gozum holding a gun near the dog.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) which had been helping the complainants with the legal costs, said the news about the conviction would shame animal offenders as Gozum’s photos were uploaded on its page on Facebook Wednesday.

“The decision of the court underscores that animal cruelty, whether by act or omission, is a crime and is punished. While it is a sad fact that many regard animals as unimportant or trivial, it is important to know that animals are protected by law and the State will prosecute offenders just like any common criminal,” PAWS’ legal counsel Roy Kayaban said in a statement.