Animal Cruelty: Man Fatally Shoots Dog For Sitting On His Car And Putting Scratches On It

A man in the Indian state of Gujarat has shot and killed a stray dog Tuesday for consistently sitting on his car and putting scratches on the vehicle, police said.

Jigar Panchal, 35, of Ranip area, shot the dog and abused residents of his apartment as they condemned his action, local daily The Times Of India reported, citing police.

An FIR lodged with police cited that Manoj Thakar, 56, a fellow resident of Panchal in Geeta Apartments heard a gunshot in the evening and rushed outside. Thakar and other residents stood witness to Panchal holding an air gun in his hand and a stray dog lying dead right in front of his car.

Residents alerted police and an investigation was ongoing. Inspector JB Khambala told the publication that Panchal shot the canine from his balcony and it died on the spot. Panchal was charged with violation of the Cruelty to Animals Act, which can lead to at least seven years in prison, and with IPC section 294 for abusing other residents of the flat.

Panchal was arrested the following evening. He was tested for COVID-19 and the report came back negative.

Last month, a Georgia man, 39, was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty for allegedly fatally shooting a dog after tying it to a post. The incident dates back to November when Deputies at Washington County Sheriff's Office and animal control officials executed a search warrant at his home to find the dog tied to a post brutally shot dead, several other dead animals, and other emaciated dogs. Authorities arrested his wife, 36, under animal cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals charges.

In March, a Utah man fatally shot his neighbor’s dog after the canine ambushed his pet dog, a mini Australian shepherd. He alerted the deputies at Utah County Sheriff’s Office about the incident but before they reached the scene, the man had fired at least three shots at the canine, killing it on the spot. The man was, however, spared charges citing the situations like this are legal under Utah law.