Pastor Found Guilty of Animal Cruelty After Dragging Dog With His Motorcycle
Pet dog Brain was forced to keep running, even with bloodied paws.
Trigger warning: This story mentions animal violence.
(SPOT.ph) A pastor who paraded disturbing behavior through the streets—abusing his own pet dog—has finally been convicted, around five years after it happened.
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) recently revealed in a Facebook post that a pastor named Bing Sylvano Capicenio has been found guilty of animal cruelty after subjecting his pet dog Brain to a harrowing ordeal on June 14, 2019. He was seen dragging Brain behind him on a motorcycle, leaving the animal with no choice but to run at a high speed.
As of writing, the Facebook post has garnered over 4,300 reacts and 1,400 shares.
Also read: #JusticeForKillua Trends After Golden Retriever Was Found Lifeless in a Sack
Justice for Brain
The incident was witnessed by multiple people, with CCTV footage showing Brain struggling to keep pace with the motorcycle and having bloodied paws.
According to PAWS, several people went to confront the pastor about his treatment of Brain, only for him to ignore the comments.
"This is just nothing—this is my own pet," Pastor Bing reportedly replied.
Witnesses named by PAWS as Cielo and John Michael warned him about the legal implications of his actions. To this, Pastor Bing replied: “Okay. Sue me. I am not afraid.”
Cielo went ahead and filed a case with the help of PAWS.
Both Cielo and John Michael ended up testifying in court, leading to Pastor Bing's conviction for violating the Republic Act No. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act. He was fined P10,000 “with subsidiary imprisonment in case of failure to pay the fine.”
“This case serves as a stark reminder that ownership does not excuse cruelty; it does not automatically absolve us of any wrongdoing or harm we cause our pets. We are still, and arguably even more so, liable and accountable for the actions we commit toward our own pets, as owning them means we are supposed to be committed to and responsible for their well-being,” PAWS wrote in the post. “Cruelty against all animals, whether our own or not, is against the law.”
SPOT.ph has reached out to PAWS to inquire about Brain’s condition.
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How to report animal cruelty to the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
Brain isn’t PAWS’ first case—and he won’t be the last.
“If more witnesses or concerned individuals like Cielo and John are committed to forwarding the legal process, we will be able to help more animals and save more lives. PAWS can help,” PAWS wrote in the comment section.
PAWS reminds the public that posting on social media or tagging animal welfare groups does not count as having taken action.
The first step is to immediately contact local barangay officials or call the police hotline at 911. After which, PAWS can help with free legal assistance to pet owners and concerned citizens who wish to pursue legal action. To be eligible for this assistance, certain criteria must be met.
You can file a case through PAWS’ official website