Last week, almost every possible social media carried an alarming video of Trufa, a female French bulldog, being kicked and abused by her “owner.” The attack was, according to the video, was totally unprovoked. Prosecutors arrested the dog owner, acting under Law 76-02 on cruelty to animals. The owner, a dentist named Oscar Nanita Geronimo, was sent before judge Jose Alejandro Vargas, at the time the coordinator for Courts for Instruction for the National District. [Vargas was promoted last week to judge of the Constitutional Court.]
Nanita Geronimo’s defense managed to work out a deal that avoided him going to prison. He agreed to participate in 15 sessions on anger control, to carry out community service at the “My Mascot Foundation” for abused and abandoned pets; pay a RD$300,000 fine, and make a public apology on television. In addition, he is to remain in his home during this process, and in case he has to move, this must be notified to the judge in charge of his case. The plea bargain allows the judge to put a hold on the complaint and arrest order that is outstanding.
The authorities took advantage of the Trufa case to raise the local awareness of the importance of caring for pets and animals in the Dominican Republic.
Pro-animal organizations are taking advantage of the case to promote caring for abandoned animals, pets and work animals.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
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N Digital
25 January 2021