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CEO caught on camera abusing dog in lift in Canada

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The chief executive officer of a US-based firm was caught on a lift's closed-circuit television camera abusing a friend's dog.

In the video, the man is seen kicking the dog and yanking its leash. 

The incident took place on July 27 in a lift of a condominium in Vancouver, Canada, reported The Age.

The footage was sent to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and aired by Canadian television network Global News.

'Surrounded by the stench of its own urine'

The Vancouver Sun reported that SPCA officers visited the apartment and saw the puppy "in its crate, surrounded by the stench of its own urine with its food and water bowls out of reach".

Mr Desmond Hague, the CEO of a multi-billion dollar catering company Centerplate, was identified as the animal abuser.

He said in a statement on Saturday: "I take full responsibility for my actions. "This incident is completely and utterly out of character and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed.

"Under the circumstances of the evening in question, a minor frustration with a friend's pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response.

"Unfortunately, I acted inappropriately, and I am deeply sorry for that and am very grateful that no harm was caused to the animal."

He added: "I have reached out to the SPCA and have personally apologised to the dog's owner."

Donate $125,000, serve community service

His company also released a statement regarding the incident.

"As a condition of his continued employment with Centerplate, Mr. Hague will personally donate US$100,000 (S$125,000), which will be donated towards the establishment of the Sade Foundation in honour of the dog he mistreated in the elevator to help support the protection and safety of animals in the city of Vancouver where the incident occurred.

"Further, we are requiring Mr. Hague to serve 1,000 hours of community service in support of an organisation that serves to protect the welfare and safety of animals."

The dog, Sade, was reportedly in good health with "no real lasting physical damage".

Sources: The Age, Vancouver Sun, CBC News, Centerplate

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