Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters

Recent incidents of animal abuse show something deeper than just violence

Friday, August 29, 2014 Matthew Coutts| Daily Brew

There is a reason incidents of animal cruelty – those cases that see otherwise reasonable-seeming adults beat or otherwise assault helpless animals to near-death or beyond, garner so much public attention. It's because those incidents are wantonly cruel, willfully evil and perhaps even indicative of the evils living with the strangers who we pass by on the street every day.

In the past couple of years, there seems to have been an increase in over-the-top attacks against family pets. Last year, a German Shepherd named Captain was beaten with a baseball bat and thrown in a dumpster, where he died. In February, an Ontario cat was shot 17 times with a pellet gun. Other dogs have been starved to death, abused, assaulted and abandoned. 

This week, an attack against a Vancouver dog received international attention and threatened the future of a billion-dollar company. And in the fallout, some questioned why an incident would get any attention at all.

There is animal abuse, and then there is exacting intentionally cruel suffering upon those less powerful than you. The violence we have seen perpetrated on animals, one wonders where that aggression goes when the helpless creatures are not around. 

Consider the case of Chewy, an elderly Chihuahua-dachshund mix who was, in 2012, thrown from a second-storey balcony in Calgary. Postmedia News reports that Chewy's former owner has just this week pleaded guilty to willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to the creature. She was given a 60-day jail sentence, to be served on weekends. It should be noted that Chewy has a new home, and a new owner, and reportedly likes to snuggle. 

But the dog's life was once less than perfect. On the night in 2012 when Chewy was injured, and thankfully not killed, the Calgary Humane Society says witnesses saw the owner throw the dog off the balcony and into a fence. The woman then came outside, picked the dog up and threw it over the fence. 

This was not a mistreated animal; this was not a mistake or moment of weakness. This was a violent hatred for the creature, a creature she was meant to care for, and a physical expression of pure violence. 

Earlier this week, an animal cruelty case out of Vancouver received massive international attention. Desmond Hague, the CEO of stadium concession vendor Centerplate, was caught on surveillance video kicking and abusing his friend's dog. 

According to CBC News, Hague was caring for the dog while staying Vancouver and attacked it while in the apartment building's elevator. In the video, he can be seen kicking the frightened dog several times in the ribs before yanking across the elevator by its neck leash and picking it up off the floor by the same. 

The violent act captured international attention, likely in part due to his executive position with Centerplate, which provides services for various arenas that house professional sports teams. The NFL's San Francisco 49ers released a statement condemning Hague's behaviour, as did the company that owns the NHL's Winnipeg Jets. 

Centerplate itself released a statement claiming it had officially censured Hague, placed him on probation, – which could result in his termination if there are any other misconducts – and ordered him to make a US$100,000 donation to a Vancouver animal protection group. Hague will also serve 1,000 hours of community service and has apologized in a public statement. 

That statement concludes with this comment: Unfortunately, I acted inappropriately, and I am deeply sorry for that and am very grateful that no harm was caused to the animal. 

He's grateful the dog wasn't harmed? His willful ignorance of the damage done to the animal in question belies a naivety that can only underline the harm that was caused to the animal. It is true the dog is alive, and it is true the dog will survive.  But anyone who believes no harm was done has never had a pet, or raised a child, or considered how their actions affect those around them at all. 

I have long promoted the need for stronger, or at least more strongly enforced, animal cruelty laws in Canada. What we're seeing more often these days isn't cruelty so much as evil. Yes, these are not people. Society should be more outraged when cruelty is directed at a human being. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be outraged at this as well. 

The way a person treats helpless animals can often be an indication of how they treat those they consider lower than themselves. Society would be outraged if a child was thrown off a two-storey balcony, or was kicked and beaten indiscriminately in an elevator. It goes without saying such behaviour has no place in this society. How is it a question now? 

Note: Chewy’s former owner was 52-year-old Valerie Penny She was handed a 60-day jail sentence to be served on weekends, six months’ probation and a 10-year ban from owning or caring for animals.

November 10, 2014 Update - re: Captain Brian Whitlock stands accused of murdering his mother. Vancouver man accused of murdering his mother was deemed low risk to re-offend after beating dog to death

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