New York businessman found guilty of shooting dog dead after it snatched his ball at a golf course in Puerto Rico
- New York businessman Salil Zaveri was convicted by a Puerto Rico for killing a stray dog at at golf course in 2021
- Zaveri shot the dog after it had taken one of the golf balls at the Wyndham Rio de Mar Gold and Beach Club
- He told the court that he acted out of fear, but the judge said Zaveri shot the dog because he wanted to continue playing
A New York businessman has been found guilty of killing a dog who snatched his ball at a golf course in Puerto Rico.
Salil Zaveri was convicted by a San Juan court on Thursday for shooting the stray pooch at the Wyndham Rio de Mar Gold and Beach Club in Río Grande in May 2021.
Zaveri, who was out on bail, was taken into custody following Judge José Marrero’s decision.
He is facing three to eight years in prison for violating the Animal Abuse Law.
He is also looking at a one to 10-year prison term for firing a firearm in violation of the Puerto Rico Weapons Law.
Salil Zaveri was convicted by a Puerto Rico court Thursday for killing a stray dog during a golf game at the Wyndham Rio de Mar Gold and Beach Club in Río Grande in May 2021
Zaveri defended his actions, telling the court that he shot the dog because he ‘thought it was going to tear my skin, crush it, like they do with iguanas’
According to El Nuevo Día, Zaveri has been living in Puerto Rico since 2015. He is a sales and marketing consultant and the CEO of Zaveri Consulting, LLC and Zaveri Insurance.
Zaveri had told the court during February 9 hearing that he feared for his life and had acted in self-defense.
‘I thought it was going to tear my skin, crush it, like they do with iguanas,’ he said. ‘I was going to suffer bodily harm or death if I didn’t. All I did was help and put myself at risk to save myself. So whatever they want to say, let them say it. I saved my friend and I saved myself.’
A group of golf players testified during the trial and said that the small dog was standing about 30 feet away from them and that it had been playing with one of the balls before Zaveri opened fire.
Salil Zaveri arrives at a courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Thursday before he was found guilty of killing a stray dog at a golf course in 2021
New York business man Salil Zaveri is escorted by a police officer following his arrest in May 2021 for gunning down a stray dog at a golf course after the pooch snatched a ball
The judge discredited Zaveri’s claim and said he gunned down the dog because it had interfered with the game.
‘He acted with another feeling because a dog was interrupting his game and he wanted to continue playing,’ Marrero.
The ruling against Salil Zaveri was cheered by animal activists who have previously accused the U.S. territory for taking little to no action against those suspected of abusing or killing animals.
‘Depriving an animal of life is an act of callousness and contempt for life,’ Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Domingo Emanuelli said.
Zaveri’s sentencing has been set for the morning of April 14.
