This is a street view of Doctor Torres Drive in Chalan Kanoa where a dog was shot.
A SOCIAL media video of a dog being shot near a public elementary school in broad daylight has gone viral as the Saipan Humane Society and a concerned citizen urged residents to abide by anti-animal cruelty laws.
SHS posted the video on its Instagram page on Sunday, April 7.
In it, a dog is seen walking down a street in Chalan Kanoa before it pauses in front of a driveway. A small pop is heard, and the dog begins to cry. The dog later runs down the street and comes to rest outside a home. It then lies down and eventually dies.
SHS President Lauren Cabrera said gun use in a school zone should be “absolutely unacceptable.”
“This situation is very alarming and should be taken very seriously,” she added.
In the Instagram post that accompanies the video, SHS said there is a link between aggression to animals and aggression to humans.
“Acts of violence towards innocent lives should raise significant concern for our community, as they often indicate broader issues of violence and aggression,” SHS stated.
Cabrera said if stray dogs are being a nuisance in the village, the appropriate action is to call the Saipan Mayor’s Office-Dog Control Program.
Dog owners should likewise restrain their animals, she added. But shooting nuisance animals is “inhumane,” she said.
Variety first became aware of the incident through a news tip from a concerned citizen, Ashley Pangelinan.
“Animal cruelty is absolutely heartbreaking and unacceptable,” Pangelinan said. “The dog was not even on the shooter’s property. When watching the video you can clearly see the dog stop to look at the shooter before the dog got shot. I cried the moment the dog lay down and died.”
Public Law 21-31 or the CNMI Animal Protection and Control Act defines “animal cruelty in the first degree” as an action that “causes serious physical injury to the animal(s), cruelty causes the death of the animal(s).”
It states that a person could face a fine between $500 and $1,000 or perform 500 hours of community service or both.
Pangelinan said she wants the police or the dog control program to take appropriate action.
“Let’s hope that law enforcement does their job and seek justice for this innocent dog,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking to see animals suffer, and it’s important that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Cabrera also urged the community to follow the law.
“When pets get shot you have to ask yourself, why? Was it for ‘fun’? Did the dog attack livestock or poultry? Was the dog chasing kids on the street? Regardless of the situation, it is important for pet owners to take responsibility for the safety of their pet — and the community — by abiding by the law and containing their dogs.”
