Three teenagers from Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, have been arrested in connection with a case in which a video of them abusing a dog went viral.
On July 27, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) Facebook Post He said he had learned of a video circulating online that showed the boy abusing a dog during a hunting trip.
“A second individual recorded the crime and a third individual was also at the scene but it is clear that neither individual intervened on behalf of the dog.” They explain.
The investigation determined the abuse occurred in early 2023 in Manchac, Louisiana, and the teens were from the Ponchatoula area.
TPSO said the suspects were three 15-year-olds. “One 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty. Two other 15-year-old boys were each arrested on one count of principal animal cruelty.”
TPSO said: “The dog seen in the video was also located and examined. At that time, the dog was found to be in good health and of a calm disposition.”
The video shows the boy repeatedly hitting the dog while trying to train it to retrieve ducks from underwater.
After this video went viral, Petition A petition was created to have the dog, which turned out to be a Labrador retriever, removed from the suspect’s home. With a total of 114,517 signatures, the petition was deemed successful.
in Follow-up StatementTPSO said it has been working with a number of animal welfare and legal experts since the boys’ arrest. “Potential additional measures regarding dog welfare”
However, with the cooperation of the suspect’s family, an agreement was reached to hand the dog over to a new owner.
“The dogs will undergo a full health check before being placed up for adoption.” TPSO wrote in an update: “The Tanjipahoa Parish Animal Services Office is coordinating the adoption search and does not require the public’s assistance with the process at this time.”
The suspect’s family also spoke out through TSPO, saying they were extremely saddened by what happened to their son and his dog.
They explained. “We love our son and are committed to making sure he learns appropriately from this experience through accountability in court and at home.”
“We love dogs and are committed to making sure they have a safe home.” The family added.
Animal Control Director Chip Fitts said: “Our goal at Animal Services is to ensure that we take all necessary steps to prevent abuse.”
“At the same time, we must ensure that the outcomes of these actions are good for all animals involved.”
