Man arrested for slaughtering, cooking a dog due to hunger

Police in Tharaka Nithi County have arrested a man for allegedly slaughtering and cooking a dog.

The man identified as Munene was apprehended on Thursday at his home in Karimba village where police found part of the dog meat boiling in a sufuria while the other had been stored in the house.

In his defence, however, the man claimed he decided to slaughter the dog due to hunger. He alleged that he had not had a meal for the last three days and was preparing to have the dog meat with Ugali.

He is expected to be be arraigned in court on Friday.

Section 8 (1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act states that one is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh.2,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both for the “cruel slaughtering of animals.”

It states that: “Any person who, whether in any slaughterhouse or abattoir or in any place than a slaughterhouse or abattoir, and whether for human consumption or not, slaughters an animal (a) in such a manner as to cause it more suffering than is necessary; or (b) in the sight of any another animal awaiting slaughter, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand shillings
or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both.”

Part two of the section, however, provides that it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that “at the time of the alleged offence he was of a religious persuasion that prescribed the slaughter of an animal in the manner in which it was slaughtered.”

The accused could also defend themselves by proving that the animal was slaughtered for private consumption and that the
meat of such animal was not the subject of sale, barter or exchange.”