A mall guard who reportedly threw a puppy from SM North EDSA’s footbridge has gone viral after a netizen named Janine Santos posted the incident on her personal Facebook account.
According to Janine’s Facebook post, the guard was asking the children, along with their pet, on the footbridge to leave the premises but refused to do so, which allegedly urged the guard to throw the puppy from the footbridge.
Photo: Pexels | Janine Santos Facebook
“Please po!!!!!! Pashare po para mabigyan ng hustisya yung ginawa dun sa tuta. Nakakaawa ung mga batang may ari dun sa aso!!! Please po pashare!!!!!” she wrote on her post.
Janine also said that a concerned citizen discussed the incident with the guard, “May isang lalaki po na kinausap ung guard ang sbe nung guard dun sa lalaki: ‘Wala akong pake'” [sic].
She pleaded for help from animal welfare advocates and asked the netizens not to “attack” the relatives of the mall guard, emphasizing she was just raising awareness of the incident as a dog lover.
It can be seen in photos that a man picked up the puppy from the busy road where it fell. According to Janine’s post, the man who picked up the puppy said that the pet was bloody.
In the comments section, Janine revealed the puppy had died before arriving at the veterinary due to brain damage and nosebleed.
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SM North EDSA released a statement on Wednesday, July 12, expressing sympathy for the incident and confirming that the guard has been dismissed.
“We have called the attention of the security agency to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter. The Security Guard has been dismissed and is no longer allowed to service any of our malls nationwide,” the statement read.
The mall added that it “strongly condemns any acts that endanger or harm the lives of animals.”
RJC Corporate Security Services Inc., the guard’s agency, also released a statement, clarifying it is thoroughly investigating the incident.
“We sincerely regret the incident that happened at a mall in Quezon City today involving a group of children and their pet. We are thoroughly investigating this incident together with public authorities and other parties involved,” the statement read.
On the other hand, the Philippine Animal Welfare (PAWS) announced on a Facebook post that they will file a case against the guard.
“PAWS condemns in the strongest possible terms this act of cruelty. We are demanding an immediate investigation of this incident and we have gotten in touch with witnesses so that we can file a case,” the organization wrote.
PAWS also said that the dog-throwing incident falls under the Animal Welfare Act.
“PAWS is committed to file a case and hold accountable the person responsible for this horrific cruelty,” the post stated.
Netizens and animal advocates expressed sympathy in the comments section and pleaded with everyone to be kinder to animals.
What are your thoughts on this?
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