Is this cool or cruel?
Facebook user Charlimagne Fugata shared a now-viral Facebook video on Thursday which shows four aspins (mixed-breed dogs) carrying an elderly man who was seated in a small wooden carriage along the national highway at Pigcawayan in North Cotabato.
The dogs seem like they were well-trained and would even stop at their owner’s command.
Fugata told Coconuts Manila through a Facebook message that the man in the video is named Vic and that he has nine dogs he takes care of. She added that he himself made the dog-drawn carriage.
While some found it cool, many were also offended by the makeshift vehicle and thought the dogs were being abused.
In a separate Facebook post, Fugata addressed those who left negative comments on the video, saying that there may be a better way to express their concerns.
She shared that Vic has trouble walking and that he just needed to get some things from his workplace which was nearby.
“He doesn’t ride the carriage all the time and he walks as long as his feet can still take him there,” she said in Filipino.
“Vic is not a bad person and he takes care and feeds his pets, he’s just really good at training his dogs,” she added.
Fugata also revealed in the post that she provided basic veterinary care and supplements for Vic’s dogs.
The video had over 156,000 views and 1,170 shares as of this article’s posting. Netizens debated whether it was appropriate to have the dogs pull the carriage around.
Sarah Udtohan wrote that this was animal cruelty.
Susan M. Espinosa had similar thoughts.
“This is a form of cruelty, it can be seen in the video that dogs are not like horses. Whatever problem the owner has, it isn’t a reason to do this to his dogs. This is very wrong. You can only do this to horses or carabaos. Whatever reason you say, it’s wrong.”
“FUCK WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT THAT? ARE YOU THAT STUPID? THAT’S ANIMAL ABUSE,” wrote Angel Julianne Sabolbora.
Others, on the other hand, saw nothing wrong with the video.
“I don’t see any cruelty in this. Those [negative people] are crueler because they don’t see the capacity of pets to show off their greatness and their worth to those who take care of them,” wrote Onilatac Jr Fernandez Ataguf.
Mckittric Torralba told those commenting negative thoughts to stay quiet.
“That’s good for the dogs to exercise… Not like those dogs who are always sleeping next to their owners.”
One user by the name Kardel Sharpeye said the video was amazing.
Jhoda Alura wrote: “I don’t think he’s abusing them. I feel like the guy really loves them. Those bitter are the ones saying he’s abusing the cute doggos. That’s hard, to make them follow you.”
What do you think? Is this animal abuse or not? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
