A farmer is facing animal cruelty charges after he was twice caught sexually assaulting a pet dog in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro, police said.

The 33-year-old suspect was charged with two counts of violation of The Animal Welfare Act of 1998 after the owner of the dog filed a complaint before the Victoria Municipal Police.

The first sexual assault was purportedly done by the married farmer at around 11 a.m. on November 8 at the back of the house of the pet owner in Barangay Poblacion I, said a woman witness.

Thirteen days later on November 21, the dog’s owner was awakened shortly after midnight by the voice of a man in his backyard.

He rushed to the window and saw the farmer, a resident of a nearby barangay, having sexual intercourse with his dog.

Acting on a complaint subsequently filed by the dog’s owner, police arrested the farmer who has remained in their custody while awaiting results of the preliminary investigation.

If found guilty, the farmer could be jailed from six months up to two years and pay a fine of not less that P1,000 but not more than P5,000.

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