On Sunday evening, Coronel Antonio López Figueroa, the designated commissioner of negotiations of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, tweeted about an arrest of a man who allegedly shot a dog multiple times.
The shooting happened on Saturday afternoon at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort in the north coastal town of Río Grande, reported local news San Juan Daily Star (SJDS). The man is identified as 60-year-old Salil A. Zaveri.
"Thanks to my policemen, who today was the voice of justice of a little dog, that an unscrupulous one, vilely killed, without any reason and in a clear disregard for life," Figueroa wrote (translated from Spanish) praising his officers, along with sharing a picture of three police officers arresting Zaveri.
Gracias a MIS policías, que hoy fueron la voz de justicia de un perrito, al que un inescrupuloso, dio muerte vilmente, sin razón alguna y en un claro desprecio por la vida. pic.twitter.com/bgUcRj2TY9
— Coronel Antonio López Figueroa (@prcompolicia) May 10, 2021
Zaveri was taken in custody by the police from Río Grande at around 5:15 p.m. the same day after receiving a "complaint of cruelty to animals," reported SJDS. A 911 emergency call from a person informed the police of a man shooting a dog more than once.
Dave DeCecco, group vice president, global communications, at the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Resort, told Newsweek that they were troubled by the incident.
"We're deeply troubled by this incident and continue to fully cooperate with local authorities as they conduct their investigation. At this time, we're unable to comment further and ask that any questions be directed to the appropriate local authorities," said DeCecco.
According to his bio on his consulting website, Zaveri is a 40-year-experienced San Juan–based, sales and marketing consultant and the CEO of Zaveri Consulting, LLC. His team is based throughout the U.S.
Zaveri, who since then has deleted his Twitter account, is "accused of shooting and killing a dog that had stolen his ball on a golf course," reported ABC News.
According to the police, he used a 9 mm gun to shoot the dog several times, as per ABC News. Zaveri was "released on $60,000 bond but his passport and driver's license have been seized."
"Ay dioj colonel... you beat yourself on the chest celebrating that a millionaire is given a bail of $ 60,000 and two Puerto Ricans (who committed a minor offense) are given $800,000 ?! Your police are (and always have been) against my people. Grow up, and do your blessed work," wrote a user (translated from Spanish).
"They are not your police, They are the Puerto Rico Police!," another wrote pointing out the use of "my" in Figueroa's caption.
Ay dioj coronel…usted dándose golpes en el pecho celebrando q a un millonario le dan una fianza de $60,000 y a dos puertorriqueñas (q cometieron menor delito) le dan $800,000?! SU policía está (y siempre ha estado) en contra de MI pueblo. Madure, y haga su trabajo bendito.
— Roy Sánchez- Vahamonde (@junkiedelarisa) May 10, 2021
In another incident of animal cruelty, a Pennsylvania man shot his dog and burned the small animal in his front yard. He was detained by the police with a bail set at $1 million.
Newsweek reached out to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau for further comments but did not get through.
