A dog has fallen victim to another case of animal cruelty.

The dog named Tiktok was found weak and wounded in Hacienda Puyas Dako, Barangay Blumentritt, Murcia town in Negros Occidental on February 24.

Five sling-launched darts called locally as “indyan panâ” were found stuck in its body.

It was believed that the dog was tied before it was used as a target.

Corazon de la Cruz, Tiktok’s fur parent, said she found an aluminum wire around the dog’s neck.

“Ang kanyang leeg may alambre. Tapos tinira nang tinira. Masama ang loob ko kasi kami ang nagpalaki [sa aso],” de la Cruz said.

A resident posted Tiktok’s circumstance on social media that drew the attention of an animal welfare group which assisted in taking Tiktok to a veterinary clinic.

“Nang nakita ko siya, naisip ko na kunin ang cellphone at picture-ran sya. Ginawa sigurong dart [board] ang aso. Hindi na nakuntento sa isa lang,” Cheryl Sumagaysay, the concerned resident, said.

Animal rights advocates immediately launched an online “bayanihan” (cooperative endeavor or mutual assistance) to collect funds for Tiktok’s medical operation.

An animal rights advocate expressed that his initial fear about Tiktok’s situation was tetanus infection.

“Medyo mahirap ito [sling-launched dart] kasi serrated sya, nakatusok ito sa kanyang laman. At ang fear natin is tetanus,” said animal rights advocate, Dr. Aaron Pabalan, Jr.

As of this writing, the darts made of steel bar were removed successfully.

Pabalan has hoped that the incident will give more weight to the stringent implementation of the law that punishes perpetrators of animal cruelty.

“Hopefully, maging eye-opener ito sa atin. Ma-move naman ang gumagawa ng ating mga batas na somehow, lagyan nila ng bigat,” Pabalan added.

According to the Murcia police, the dog could have possibly been played upon by youngsters in the area.

“Baka napagtripan ng kabataan kasi kung titingnan natin ang “indyan panâ,” maaaring makapatay talaga. Maaari ngang makapatay ng tao, hayop pa na maliit,” Major Sherwin Fernandez, chief of Murcia police station, said.

The local government unit of Murcia and other concerned groups have offered reward money to individuals who can provide accurate information on the identities of the perpetrators.

The funds for the reward money have already reached P235,000, as of posting time.

In 2024, two aspins (asong Pinoy) in Bacolod City also suffered from sling-induced darts.

However, the culprits have never been identified. (GMA Regional TV)