A SIX-YEAR-OLD pitbull was severely injured after his owner's neighbor allegedly beat him in San Roque, Talisay City, earlier Tuesday, June 26.
Hachitso, a brown pitbull owned by 18-year-old Jamaica Jucaban, was rushed to a private veterinary hospital in Cebu City after he sustained injuries on his left face and neck. He was hit by a hard object.
Jucaban identified their neighbor, a certain Archie, as the one who beat her pet.
Jucaban and her family vowed that they will sue their neighbor.
Jucaban told SunStar Cebu that she was awakened by Hachitso's cries at 3 a.m. She said her dog is scared of thunderclaps.
Jucaban tried to comfort the dog by removing him from the cage outside the house and taking him to her room to sleep.
At 6 a.m. earlier Tuesday, Jucaban's 15-year-old nephew left their house to go to school when he did not notice Hachitso following him. The dog reportedly roamed toward the house of Jucaban's neighbor.
A few minutes later, Jucaban and her niece went out of the house to look for the dog, which they found lying at their neighbor's house and vomiting blood.
Jucaban saw Archie and asked him what happened to her dog. She said Archie was unrepentant in admitting he hit her dog.
Jucaban then sought her father's help in bringing Hachitso to a vet. They brought the dog to the Talisay City Veterinary Office for treatment.
Dr. Mary Thessa Alo, Talisay City veterinarian, told Sunstar Cebu that the dog sustained a massive injury in its left jaw and neck. A very hard object may have been used to hit the dog.
Due to the impact, the dog could not get up or make use of his legs, Alo said.
She told Jucaban and her father that Hachitso had to be brought to a private veterinary clinic for further treatment.
Jucaban said that months before the incident, they were threatened by Archie that "something bad" would happen to Hachitso should it leave their house.
Archie was reportedly angry with Jucaban and her family after one of his chickens was killed by Hachitso.
But Jucaban said that after the incident, they paid Archie for the chicken killed by Hachitso and made sure the dog will not escape their house by putting him on a cage.
Jucaban said that Hachitso might be aggressive to other animals but was very adorable to humans.
"Wala gyud na siya kapaak since naabot na siya namo," Jucaban said.
Hachitso was given to Jucaban as a gift from a family friend two years ago.
Jucaban added they will pursue charges against their neighbor for violating Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 2013. (JKV/SunStar Cebu)