Filipinos outraged over dog shot with arrows, call for law with ‘stronger fangs’

The plight of a dog in the Philippines that was shot with multiple arrows has triggered widespread outrage, with animal rights activists and politicians condemning the case of animal abuse and calling for stricter penalties against offenders.

Leah Dela Cruz, the dog’s owner, said on Monday that she was horrified to find her badly injured pet named Tiktok with the arrows embedded in its body in a town in Murcia municipality.

The dog is recovering at an animal clinic and requires therapy to regain mobility in its left leg, according to Aaron Pabalan, a veterinarian who examined Tiktok.

Local officials and animal rights activists have offered a US$5,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator.

The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has condemned the act of cruelty, with its Executive Director Anna Cabrera saying PAWS was ready to help file a criminal case over the incident.

Cabrera said in a statement that PAWS had reached out to the Bacolod Animal Chance and Hope (BACH) Project PH, the rescuer of the injured dog.