Filipinos pay tribute to Marshall and Millions, two dogs that were shot dead by police
Heaven has welcomed two dogs named Marshall and Millions after their tragic death at the hands of the Metropolitan Police.
According to multiple news reports, the incident involved a man and his two bulldogs that had been reported to have attacked a woman and her pet dog in east London. After the police were alerted of what happened, a group of officers headed toward the location of the man to have him surrender the dogs.
Footage of the incident that has since spread on social media showed the officers wielding a catcher pole, riot shield, and a gun. The man attempted to walk away from the police, but their argument eventually escalated to the point where he was tasered and the officers fired a bullet into the dogs, killing them.
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In a statement, a spokesperson from the Met Police defended their officers' actions, stressing that "the aggressive behavior of the two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them."
"A man was arrested in connection with the incident for having a dog dangerously out of control and assault offenses. He has been taken into police custody."
The statement went on to emphasize that what happened was "never an easy decision for any officer to take, but police have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused."
The death of Marshall and Millions has sparked outrage among social media users, who have condemned the unjust action that the group of officers took against the two dogs. Many Filipinos have paid tribute to them in their own, personal ways, including artist Mary Mae Dacanay, who created leaf artworks showing an image of the dogs.
Pawssion Project—a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of dogs in distress—posted a literary piece crafted by Marion White accompanied by an artwork produced by Jerson Chavez that depicts the two dogs wearing a flower necklace with a halo above their heads.
"My heart breaks for them! I fervently hope that the authorities do something about it. I hope no dogs can experience that kind of cruelty again!" one user wrote.
Another one commented, "Seeing the video makes me sad and angry at the same time. Dogs are super loyal they would protect you no matter what. Nakakalungkot talaga if they wouldn't get justice. People will put their justice in their own hands and it can cause a riot from dog lovers. Not only dogs, but pet lovers as well."
A petition to hold the Met Police criminally accountable for the leashed dogs' killing has been put up on Change.org, describing the footage of the incident as "easily one of the most disgusting, abhorrent and totally unjustifiable videos" she has ever seen. It also pointed out that unacceptable abuse of power."
The husband of the woman who was attacked by Marshall and Millions, meanwhile, told Daily Mail that his wife "is very upset" over what happened to the dogs and that she had insisted to the bystanders not to get the police involved.