Dog saved from mercy killing after being cleared in death of owner

OFF THE HOOK Spike remains at the dog impounding facility in Talisay City, Cebu for observation. He was saved from euthanasia as local officials said he did not attack and kill his owner. —TALISAY CITY GOVERNMENT FACEBOOK PHOTO

CEBU CITY — A dog suspected of attacking and killing his owner in Talisay City recently is now off the hook.

Spike, of mixed Doberman and “aspin” (asong Pinoy, or mongrel) breed, has nothing to do with the death of 63-year-old George Mayol, according to Talisay Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas.

“I received the official death certificate on Mayol earlier today. According to the death certificate, Mayol died of a heart attack,” the mayor said in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday night.

“With that in mind, our acting city veterinarian, Dr. Hope Dejadena, will shorten the observation period for Spike, the dog in question. After the observation period, Spike will be up for adoption, hopefully within the week,” he added.

Spike would have undergone euthanasia after he was accused by Mayol’s relatives and neighbors as the same dog who attacked the victim last year in the family compound at Barangay Mohon, Talisay.

Mayol was found dead in a makeshift toilet inside the compound on Sept. 28.

Dejadena said she was planning to release Spike for adoption when the dog completes the 10-day observation period. She said Spike was not showing any sign or symptom related to rabies.Gullas believed it was only proper to give the dog a chance to live.

“Let us not prolong his stay at the dog pound because it clearly shows in the death certificate, that he (Mayol) didn’t die from [a] dog [bite] but from a heart attack,” he said.

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Not bite marks

Cpl. Clifford Lerio, investigator at the Talisay City police, said they, too, were convinced that Mayol died of natural causes.Lerio said the skin burns on Mayol’s body were not dog bites but signs of decomposition. Mayol was immediately cremated without undergoing autopsy upon the decision of his family.

In July 2022, Mayol reportedly got a total of 59 stitches to close a wound after he was bitten by Spike.

After the incident, Mayol’s brother Rodrigo advised the victim to turn over Spike and his four other dogs to the city pound. Mayol reportedly refused.According to Rodrigo, his brother had treasured his dogs who became his closest companions while living alone.