A dog filmed being dragged along the ground by its owner after allegedly being shot for giving birth to puppies has died.
A horrified onlooker videoed a Spanish hunter mistreating the animal on Saturday.
It was rescued seriously injured, but on Tuesday it was confirmed it had died at the animal clinic in Lugo, Galicia, where vets were trying to save its life.
The unidentified owner, a man said to be aged around 60, could face a prison sentence of nearly two years and a fine of more than £25,000.
Animal welfare groups and a local vets association have already pledged to take legal action against him.
An online petition titled Justice for Alma, the name of the tragic dog, has already been signed by thousands of people calling for ‘the full weight of the law to fall on this lunatic.’
The petition says: ‘Alma is a dog who has young pups and is fighting for her life after her owner gave her a beating and shot her twice causing her serious injuries.
‘When he saw he hadn’t killed her he dragged her along the ground to finish off the killing at home.
‘Thanks to someone who was passing through, footage was taken and this miscreant was reported to police.
‘Today we are asking for everyone’s cooperation so this crime doesn’t go unpunished and the full weight of the law falls on this madman.’
Asturias, northern Spain-based animal welfare group Mundo Vivo, which published a photo of the dog and the footage of the incident on Saturday in the municipality of Chantada near Lugo before confirmation it had died, said: ‘This happened in Chantada, Lugo.
‘After shooting it and breaking its humeri but not killing it, it was beaten around the head and dragged home so its owner could finish the job.
‘Its crime was to give birth. The mother is in a serious condition in a hospital in Lugo and the puppies are being cared for by the local vet.
‘Mundo Vivo will take legal action. Please share this video so that when this case reaches trial, the judges will be implacable with this scum of the earth.’
The footage was later shared by animal rights organisations Mundo Vivo and PACMA.
The footage shows the moment the hunter drags the injured animal through a tunnel before dumping the dog on the ground.
The man then abandoned the dog which was later taken to the Rof Codina animal hospital.
Meanwhile, her six puppies, only 15 days old, were taken to an animal protection centre.
Mundo Vivo also said that the puppies are in good health.
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