MIAMI (WSVN) - A man at the center of a canine controversy has apologized for his actions after a viral video showed him allegedly abusing his dog on the balcony of his Miami apartment.
The dog owner took to social media to apologize to everyone he offended or hurt by his disturbing actions.
Video showed the man with what appears to be a knife in hand, hitting and holding down a dog and pressing the animal’s head against the concrete. The disturbing video was posted on Instagram by a neighbor, and it immediately got a lot of attention.
City of Miami Police officers and Miami-Dade Animal Services responded to the high-rise at 1500 Northeast Miami Place on Tuesday morning.
An area resident who asked not to be identified or show her face on camera spoke with 7News on Wednesday.
“It was awful, but I’m not surprised. He’s known to be a terrible dog owner. I feel bad for the dog,” said the woman, who lives in a building nearby.
The woman said she knows who the man in the video is.
“I’ve seen his kid kick the dog before, he never has the dog on a leash, he doesn’t clean up after the dog, so it’s not surprising at all,” she said.
he woman who spoke with 7News said the man had the dog off the leash last year, and the animal tore into her leg.
The dog came up to me, ran full force and bit my leg,” she said.
The woman provided 7News with a picture showing her bloody calf and showed what appears to be a scar. She said the dog’s owner refused to accept responsibility or pay for her medical expenses.
The woman also reacted to the viral video.
“It was very disturbing to see,” she said.
According to MDAS, the man informed police that he was following the advice of his dog trainer and has two dogs.
A statement from MDAS reads in part:
“The owner was cautioned about leaving dogs on the balcony unattended and was advised that the correction method used on the dogs was not recommended.”
The man complied with police to have the dog taken to a vet where to have a physical examination done, in which the dog was cleared of any injuries and deemed to be in good health.
A statement from City of Miami Police reads:
The dog has been checked out and cleared of any injuries.”
The man received citations for not having current vaccinations or license tags, but no arrests will be made.
In a statement translated from Spanish that the man posted on Instagram on Wednesday, he wrote:
To the community:
Recently, a video has circulated in which I appear in a very unfortunate moment with my dog. I want to be clear and honest: I deeply regret my actions and understand the concern it has generated.
My dogs are part of my family and are perfectly taken care of. I take them out everyday and I have always looked out for their well being. After what happened, the authorities and animal control came to check on my dog, who is in perfect health and without any harm. Nevertheless, I had to pay a fine, which I accept as part of my responsibility.
I know what is shown in the video does not reflect how I treat my pets on a daily basis. It was a moment of frustration, and I admit I acted incorrectly.
I offer my sincere apologies to all those who have been offended or hurt by the incident. I’m taking steps to make sure this never happens again and I’m committed to learning from this experience to be a better person and pet owner.
Finally, I pray that the threats towards my family will stop. I am willing to take responsibility for my actions, but I don’t think violence or threats is the answer.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
Courtesy: @elmoritonibiru
Despite the outrage online, investigators determined that what was seen in the video is not a crime.
“The dog should be taken. I feel bad for the dog; it’s probably a nice dog, just with a terrible owner,” said the woman who spoke with 7News.
The man stated he has learned from this, adding that he’s committed to ensuring this never happens again and strives to be a better dog owner.
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