Dog shot and dragged along ground by owner because she gave birth to six puppies dies from injuries
A dog that was filmed being dragged along the ground by its owner with a rope after it had been shot because it had given birth to a litter of puppies has died, officials have confirmed.
The horrific incident was filmed in Chantada, Spain, by a passerby who heard a gunshot and decided to rush to the scene, according to the Daily Mail. The video captured the moment the helpless dog was dragged through a tunnel and dumped on the ground.
The owner of the dog can be heard arguing with the man filming him and asking him to stop, to which the good samaritan replies, "What you are doing is inhuman. I'm not filming you, I'm filming the animal and what you're doing."
Angered, the owner is said to have yelled, "I can shoot whoever the f**k I want to shoot."
Virginia Gonzalez, who filmed the altercation with her husband Ramon Feijoo, told a local TV station, "He said he was taking the animal home, that he was a hunter and that he could do it. When we said we were going to call the police he started to drag it along the ground with a rope around its neck."
The disturbing footage was later shared on social media by PACMA (Animalist Party Against Mistreatment of Animals), a political party based in Bilbao focused on animal rights and animal welfare
The dog, who has been named Alma, was transported to the Rof Codina animal hospital treatment, while her six puppies, which were just 15-days-old, were taken to a local animal protection center. Northern Spain-based animal welfare group Mundo Vivo said the mother's "crime was to give birth."
However, despite the best efforts of veterinarians, the mom's injuries proved too serious and she could not be saved. Luckily, the puppies appear to be in good health.
The news of her death was confirmed by PACMA, who wrote, "We have just confirmed with the university veterinary hospital Rof Codina de Lugo that the dog mistreated by the hunter of Chantada has passed away. We are brokenhearted, but we will keep fighting for her, so justice is done."
An online petition called 'Justice for Alma' which called for the "full weight of the law to fall on this lunatic" has already been signed by over 164,000 people.
"Alma is a dog who has young pups and is fighting for her life after her owner gave her a beating and shot her twice causing her serious injuries," it read. "When he saw he hadn't killed her he dragged her along the ground to finish off the killing at home."
"Thanks to someone who was passing through, footage was taken and this miscreant was reported to police. Today we are asking for everyone's cooperation so this crime doesn't go unpunished and the full weight of the law falls on this madman."
If convicted, the owner could face a sentence of up to two years in prison and a fine of more than $33,000.