On 6 November, a video of a dog walker kicking a dog at Coney Island circulated widely on Facebook, drawing intense public backlash and prompting an investigation.
The incident was initially recorded and posted by Facebook user Vienoth Mohan, who was on a morning walk when he encountered two women walking eight dogs.
While filming what he assumed would be a lighthearted moment, Mohan instead captured one of the women abruptly kicking one of the dogs in the head.
According to Mohan, the kick caused the dog to stumble, while the other handler in the video appeared unperturbed.
Mohan shared the footage on Facebook, describing his disappointment at witnessing “animal abuse.”
The video has since gained traction, accumulating over 185,000 views on Facebook and Reddit, and spurring widespread concern among animal lovers.
Mohan reported the incident to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS).
Handler Defends Actions, Cites Emergency
Following the backlash, Stormwoofers Daycare and Boarding, the pet care company associated with the handler, identified the woman in the video as the business owner.
In a series of Instagram Stories, the handler offered an explanation and apology, stressing that she was reacting in an “emergency situation.”
According to her statement, the dog she kicked was her own, and she believed it was chewing on something potentially harmful at that moment.
Lacking control over the dog’s leash, she stated that she felt she needed to act swiftly to prevent it from swallowing the unidentified item.
She admitted that using her foot was a poor choice in hindsight, but insisted her actions were not abusive, saying, “Please understand that a five-second video really doesn’t represent who I am.”
The handler further assured followers of her love for animals, sharing messages from clients who praised her service and character, with one expressing they had “never had a bad experience” with Stormwoofers.
NParks and SPCA Investigate, Emphasize Importance of Reporting
In response to media queries, Jessica Kwok, group director at the National Parks Board (NParks), confirmed that NParks had received reports of alleged animal abuse at Coney Island and was investigating the matter.
Kwok reiterated NParks’ commitment to handling animal cruelty cases seriously, adding that they take action against any incidents of abandonment, inadequate care, or cruelty.
NParks encourages the public to report suspected animal cruelty cases, providing potential evidence through their website or by calling the Animal Response Centre at 1800-476-1600.
Proposed New Laws for Animal Abuse
Just last month, it was reported that authorities are currently reviewing animal welfare laws in response to recent cases of animal abuse.
AVS is evaluating the Code of Animal Welfare for the pet industry to address negligence in areas such as grooming and boarding services.
This initiative follows several high-profile cases of animal cruelty and neglect in recent years.
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