Distressing footage has emerged showing a group of giggling men strapping fireworks to a helpless dog before lighting them and waiting for the explosion.
The gang of youths are seen crowding around the doomed mutt as one sparks the fuses of two firecrackers. Moments later the devices detonate, producing a flash of light and a plume of smoke, and the dog can no longer be seen.
Warning: distressing scenes
Campaigners have launched a petition to hit the callous killers with harsher sentences. According to Honduran newspaper El Heraldo, the men received a £60 fine and 40 hours of community service.
The paper says the incident is thought to have happened in December in the town of El Negrito in Honduras's Yoro province.
Petition creator Amanda Perry wrote: "Such acts need to be severely punished by the Honduran authorities, how [sic] cannot ignore it.
"These teens definitely need to be taught a lesson. It is pretty obvious they have no respect for animals.
"Please take a moment to support this campaign and ask the authorities in Honduras to launch an investigation into this case and bring these yobs to justice."
The petition, which has nearly 10,000 signatures, can be viewed at yousignanimals.org, where the footage was uploaded.
