Editor’s Note (Updated Dec 19, 2025): This article has been updated to reflect new, verified information released by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and relevant authorities as the case continues to develop.
On December 4, 2025, in Sadanga, Mountain Province, an American Bully named Axle was beaten and killed during a community event after he allegedly urinated on a man. The incident was captured on CCTV and eventually went viral on social media, sparking outrage among netizens, dog lovers, and animal welfare advocates.
The video shows a man repeatedly striking Axle with a piece of wood, witnessed by children and the woman believed to be Axle’s owner, who desperately pleaded for him to stop. The dog did not exhibit threatening behavior prior to the fatal beating.
Reaction, backlash, and push for justice
Animal welfare groups like CARA Welfare Philippines took to social media to air their distress over what happened to Axle. “We are calling for justice for Axle, but we also want his story to spark change. Let this be a moment where communities choose education over fear, compassion over aggression, and accountability instead of silence,” they said on their Facebook post.
Meanwhile, Furvent Animal Rescue and Advocacy said, “A helpless animal was beaten repeatedly and people only watched. This reality is painful and disturbing. The reason given for the beating was a supposed pamahiin about dogs urinating on a person. We looked into this, asked around and searched for any cultural basis. We found none. We are not from Mountain Province, but even with our research, we found no documented tradition that supports this belief.”
The incident sparked a widespread call for justice and a renewed debate over how animals are treated under law and custom. Advocates argue that cruelty cannot be justified by fear, superstition, or belief.
Animal Kingdom Foundation also weighed in on the incident. In their open letter, they asked local authorities to ensure that the Animal Welfare Act of 1998 (RA 8455, as amended by RA 10631) is fully upheld. “This appeal is not intended to create division or hostility,” they said. “It serves as a reminder that justice, compassion, and strict adherence to the law must guide the resolution of this matter.”
Not mere property
According to reports received by multiple animal welfare organizations, a settlement was made between the alleged perpetrator and Axle’s owner after the incident. The Animal Kingdom Foundation states, “While we respect the right of individuals to pursue amicable settlement as a form of dispute resolution, we must not forget that dogs like Axle are not mere property.”
In an official statement released on December 9, 2025, the Sadanga LGU expressed its ‘unequivocal condemnation of the senseless killing’ of Axle. “We confirm that a filing of [a] case is ongoing against the perpetrator, who is a driver of the Local Government Unit,” they said on their Facebook post.
Furthermore, the LGU clarified that the perpetrator is neither a Sangguniang Bayan member nor one Daniel “Dongpop” Dawadeo, contrary to reports circulating online. “We urge the public to refrain from spreading unverified claims that may cause unwarranted harm to individuals not involved in the incident,” they added.
Animal cruelty is punishable by law. The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) outlines how to report animal cruelty
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Update as of December 15, 2025:
According to a post shared by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Atty. Ringgo Sumedca, a prosecution attorney at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Mountain Province, declined to receive and docket the criminal complaint related to the killing of Axle, despite having administered the oath to the complainants.
PAWS stated that the prosecutor cited “insufficient evidence” and “unauthenticated CCTV footage” as reasons for not proceeding at that time.
PAWS added that it would continue to pursue the filing of the criminal case through proper legal channels.
This is a developing story.
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Update as of December 19, 2025:
According to PAWS, which coordinated directly with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Office of the Prosecutor, the Sadanga PNP has formally filed a case against Erwin Faguinney, a municipal driver of LGU Sadanga. The case is now docketed under INV No. 1-07-INV-25L-D0110, with investigative hearings set to proceed.
An excerpt from the official police blotter states that at around 10:00 a.m. on December 4, 2025, Axle allegedly approached and urinated on Faguinney. The report further states that this prompted the accused to strike the dog with a piece of wood in front of the owner’s residence, continuing to hit the animal until it succumbed to its injuries.
PAWS said it deliberately delayed announcing that a case had been filed until it was able to validate all information directly with authorities, emphasizing its commitment to sharing only accurate, verified, and official updates. The organization also acknowledged the efforts of the PNP and the Office of the Prosecutor and said it will continue to closely monitor developments as the case moves forward.
