Tag: animal cruelty

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Video: Man Arrested For Allegedly Abandoning Puppy On Roadside

A heartbreaking video went viral last week which apparently captures a 68-year-old Texas man abandoning a 10-month-old Husky pup on the side of a road even as the dog chased his former owners down the road. Continue reading “Video: Man Arrested For Allegedly Abandoning Puppy On Roadside”

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Texas Governor Vetoes Anti-Dog Cruelty Legislation

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (screen capture)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (screen capture)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (screen capture)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) vetoed Senate Bill 474, known as the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, that would have made it illegal to leave dogs chained up outside without drinkable water, adequate shade or shelter. The bill passed in the Senate 28-3 and the House 83-32. From the Texas Tribune:

Abbott said Texas already has the statutes in place to protect dogs from animal cruelty, and the penalties proposed in Lucio’s bill seemed excessive.

“Texas is no place for this kind of micro-managing and over-criminalization,” he said in the veto statement.

Shelby Bobosky, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network, a nonprofit that lobbies in support of animal rights, said the organization’s members are devastated by the veto, and the bill would have “clarified the vague language that makes the statute completely unenforceable.”

The hashtag #AbbottHatesDogs began trending on Twitter soon after Abbott’s veto.

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CEO Caught On Video Beating His 4-Month-Old Puppy

Jeffrey Previte (images via Daily Mail/screen capture)
Earlier this week, The Daily Mail published disturbing footage of Santa Monica CEO Jeffrey Previte violently abusing his puppy. In the short clip captured by security cameras, Previte can be seen thrashing and choking his 4-month-old dog Bici outside his apartment in the Seychelle Condominiums building in Santa Monica, California. After the video went viral, Previte reportedly emailed friends and colleagues saying, “I want everyone to know that I truly regret my actions on August 22, 2020. Words can’t fully describe how sorry I am for what happened.” “I lost my temper and took unreasonable and unjustifiable action in attempting to discipline my dog Bici,” continued the 46-year-old executive. “As I have said, words are not enough here, Bici is no longer living with me and is with another loving family. I have also stepped away from my job and am enrolling in anger management training.” Initially, Previte declared there was nothing illegal about his actions. But the Santa Monica Police Department issued a statement which included, “Based on the information received, Santa Monica Animal Control Officers turned their reports over to the Santa Monica Police Department Detectives who will present the case to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration of violation 597(a) of the California Penal Code, Malicious Mischief Against an Animal / Animal Cruelty.” His brother Nolan Previte, who works as co-CEO of EBI Consulting with his sibling, defended his brother’s actions in an email to employees saying Jeffrey is “kindhearted” and “deeply cares” for the puppy. He explained the vicious treatment as “zealous discipline of the dog for peeing on the rug.” Santa Monica police confirmed they were aware of the sickening video and are currently investigating it as a possible incident of animal abuse. The video clip is below. Warning: Very disturbing content.

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News Round-Up: November 25, 2019

From the 2020 Mitch Fit calendar
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Yep, it’s calendar season and if you like gingers (umm, who doesn’t?), the new Mitch Fit calendar is for you! • Daily Beast: Robert De Niro declares he’s Team Buttigieg saying in a recent interview, “He’s got all the credentials — Rhodes Scholar, Afghanistan veteran — even though he’s young, and if he could get a chance it could be something special, I think.” • Men’s Health: Henry Cavill talks about what motivates him in the gym. “It’s not like I’m a golden god — I’m just proud of what I achieved. And then you can take your clothes off in front of your significant other, and they’re like, ‘Goddamn, you look great!’ Like, ‘Yes! I’m making other people happy.’” For the record, yes – it would make me happy for Henry to take his clothes off 🙂

• ABC News: Donald Trump, whose sons enjoy killing animals for enjoyment, signed into law today a bill that makes animal cruelty a felony. I totally support the new law, but the irony is inescapable. • Global Citizen: Italy has passed a law that will give garbage collection tax breaks to businesses that donate unsold to charities rather than throw it away. Currently, the country spends more than $13 billion USD on waste management. • New Music: Like the track itself, the new music video for “Oh Mama” from indie-pop group Milky Chance has a trippy, retro blues vibe. It’s pretty hard to avoid nodding in time with the song. From the band’s new release Mind The Moon.

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Video Captures Baylor University Football Player Ishmael Zamora Beating His Dog

Ishmael Zamora

Baylor University, already coping with hideous reputation issues, is now facing another public embarrassment as video has surfaced showing wide receiver Ishmael Zamora beating his dog with a belt, then kicking the frightened animal.

In May, Baylor school president and head football coach were both fired after team officials failed to report complaints of allegations of violence against women by football players.

Now, this hideous display of inhumanity.

From KCBD:

In late June, a video of Ishmael Zamora, a wide receiver for the Bears, was shared on another Baylor player’s Snapchat. The video shows Zamora abusing his dog.

Viewers can hear Zamora’s dog yelp as Zamora hits the dog with a belt. The player then kicks, yells and curses at the dog.

Former Baylor student, Shelby Ball, said she knew she had to do something as soon as she saw the video.

“I went to authorities probably about two hours after I saw the video,” Ball said. “Dogs can’t speak for themselves… I felt like something needed to be done.”

Police documents show that Ball initially went to Animal Control and the Baylor Police Department with the video of Zamora. The documents show that the school’s athletic department knew about it.

Zamora said that he was only trying to discipline his dog and not harm him.

Zamora expressed that same sentiment in a statement he released to News Channel 25.

“I lost my temper trying to discipline him,” Zamora said. “I’ve been through training with a dog trainer to help me learn new potty training tips.”

The ten second video can be viewed here, but be warned – Graphic violence depicted.

According to the news station, Zamora was issued a Class C misdemeanor which could result in a maximum of $500 fine.

The Daily Beast is reporting the dog is no longer in Zamora’s custody.

Feel free to leave him a personal message on his Instagram here. Just pick out a pic, and let him know what you think about folks who beat animals.

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SeaWorld Announces End Of Killer Whale Breeding Program & Theatrical Shows

NPR is reporting that SeaWorld will soon end it’s practice of breeding killer whales in captivity, and instead shift focus to rescue operations.

SeaWorld’s treatment of its killer whales, or orcas, was put in the spotlight three years ago by Blackfish, a documentary that examined the death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by an orca named Tilikum. Since then, in a steady campaign on social media, critics have demanded SeaWorld end its orca breeding program.

In an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States, SeaWorld says it now will do so. In a news release, HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle said, “Today’s announcement signals that the era of captive display of orcas will end.”

SeaWorld President and CEO Joel Manby said in the same news release, “As one of the largest rescue organizations in the world, we will increase our focus on rescue operations — so that the thousands of stranded marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions that cannot be released back to the wild will have a place to go.”

In addition to ending the breeding programs, SeaWorld will end the live theatrical orca shows at its San Diego park in 2017, and the San Antonio and Orlando parks will end the shows by 2019.

(h/t JMG)

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Baby Dolphin Dies Of Dehyration After Beachgoers Pose For “Selfies” With The Beached Mammal

Very sad story from Argentina regarding a young dolphin dying because beachgoers wanted to take “selfies” with the mammal.

From The Daily Mail:

A young dolphin has died of suspected dehydration after being paraded around like a trophy and stroked by a crowd of sunbathers who then abandoned it on the sand.

The group of people huddled around the mammal taking selfies after it was found on the Argentine beach resort of Santa Teresita in the north-eastern Buenos Aires Province.

Dozens of people crowded round to look at the squirming calf as they strained to touch it, and have their photos taken with it.

After crowding around the baby dolphin and taking pictures, the young mammal was left on the beach to die.

There are only 30,000 La Plata dolphins left in the world. According to experts, dolphins, cannot remain out of water for long. The mammals have a thick, greasy skin that provides warmth, so the too much exposure to the sun and elements can quickly causes dehydration and death.