Man face prosecution after video showed alleged torture of dog

AMMAN — A motorist, who allegedly tied a dog and dragged him with his car on the Amman-Irbid Highway, on Wednesday was referred to the prosecutor for legal action, police said.

The suspect was arrested hours after a video went viral showing a man in a dark green car driving slowly on the right side of the road and dragging a live dog tied with a rope to the back Pumper of the vehicle.

“We have detained the motorist and referred him to Jerash prosecutor for further legal action,” Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

Sartawi added that the motorist claimed that he owned the dog for protection but “the animal had rabies and was attacking his children and decided to get rid of him”.

“It is now in the hand of the judiciary,” the police official told The Jordan Times.

The Jordanian Penal Code stipulates a week imprisonment and a JD5 in fine for anyone who abuses animals by either negligence, deprivation from food, beating and torturing, and using old animals or animals that cannot perform certain duties.

Journalist Ziad Nuseirat posted on his Facebook page a video clip saying “a sad scene on the Irbid highway”.

Dozens of people reacted to his video clip voicing their dismay and outrage. Naser Atrash wrote: “This is cruelty and this man should be imprisoned.”

Margaret Ledger, the founder and director of the Humane Centre for Animal Welfare (HCAW), said animal abusers are getting away with their actions because of “weak legal persecution and laws”.

“We have drafted a law that introduces stricter punishment and tougher laws to address animal cruelty but no action has been taken from any party,” Ledger told The Jordan Times.

The activist added that anyone can kill or torture an animal and “never be charged”.

“Anyone who harms animals will eventually end up harming human beings.  We have to keep this in mind,” Ledger argued.

The HCAW was established in 2000 to treat large and small animals as well as working towards changing the attitudes of people towards the environment and animal protection.

Their work focuses on child education from the age of 2 to 20, according to Ledger.