Suspected puppy slayer to get summons

Police have issued a summons against a medical student after one of the two Pomeranian puppies he is suspected of poisoning to profit from the insurance coverage was found to have prescription drugs in its stomach.

An autopsy by Regional Medical Sciences Centre 9 showed that several yellow tablets recovered from the puppy’s stomach are a medication for reducing human blood pressure, said Pol Lt Col Pichai Cherdchu, the deputy superintendent of Pho Klang police station in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Several white pills collected from the same animal are dietary minerals, he said.

The findings were consistent with an autopsy conducted by Anongnat Suttham, owner of the Centre Pet Hospital, who said the dog was killed by a drug overdose that led to a rapid drop in its blood pressure, Pol Lt Col Pichai said.

Phattarapong Songsapkul, who was earlier identified as a sixth-year medical student at Bangkok’s Mahidol University, appears to be guilty at least of animal cruelty if not fraud, he said.

The student is suspected of hiring two pet transport firms on separate occasions this year to take two Pomeranians to his hometown of Nakhon Ratchasima as a ploy to profit from their deaths.

Both animals died and he demanded the firms pay him compensation in the region of 50,000 baht each — a request they declined.

The student will be summoned to meet inquiry officers within seven days, Pol Lt Col Pichai said.

If the man fails to respond to either a first or second summons a warrant for his arrest will be sought, he added.

In the latest case, Mr Phattarapong hired PetMovers about two weeks ago and purchased a 50,000-baht travel insurance policy.

Upon arrival at its destination, the dog appeared to be out of sorts and was suffering from flatulence. It was later pronounced dead at the hospital.