Puppy-Kicking CEO Placed on Probation But Isn’t Fired

FEB. 23, 2015 UPDATE: Des Hague pleaded guilty today to one count of animal cruelty.

Des Hague, the Centerplate CEO caught on camera kicking a Doberman puppy in an elevator, was placed on probation today — but he still has his job.

Centerplate’s board of directors sent Fox59 a statement saying that after reviewing the case during a special meeting today, they decided to do the following:

  • Place Hague on indefinite probation, “stating that any further acts of misconduct would result in immediate termination.”
  • Hague must donate $100,000 toward establishing a “Sade Foundation,” named after the puppy he kicked, which will protect animals in Vancouver, where the abuse took place.
  • He must also perform 1,000 hours of community service for an organization that protects the welfare and safety of animals.

 

  • He will be slapped very firmly on the wrist.

(Okay, I made up that last one.)

“Centerplate in no way condones the mistreatment of animals, and as a strong sign of our conviction, we the company will also contribute a portion of our sales to the Sade Foundation,” the board stated. “Additionally, we will open this foundation to all Centerplate employees and the general public who want to support and contribute in the hope that meaningful change can come out of this tragic situation.”

In the video, taken July 27 inside an elevator at the upscale Private Residences at Hotel Georgia, Hague can be seen repeatedly kicking the puppy’s stomach, and then choking her by yanking up her leash and suspending her in the air.

When BC SPCA investigators tracked down Hague in one of the condos, they found the puppy, named Sade, in a urine-soaked crate, with food and water bowls beyond her reach. When Sade was removed from the crate, she was skittish and appeared to have been physically abused.

Hague released a contrite statement Monday through his attorney, claiming the incident was “completely and utterly out of character. I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed … a minor frustration with a friend’s pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response.”

As news of the case has spread, a growing number of outraged people are calling for a boycott of Centerplate until Hague is terminated.

Hague conveniently deleted his Twitter account late last week, but people are using the hashtags #DesHague and #BoycottCenterplate to condemn the puppy-kicking CEO.

Here’s the surveillance video showing Hague losing control of his emotional response.

RECALL ALERT: 22 Bags of Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dog Food

Mars Petcare US has announced a voluntary recall of some bags of Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition dry dog food because they may contain small metal fragments.

According to a recall notice, the fragments may have entered bags during the production process at a manufacturing facility, which has temporarily been shut down.

The 22 recalled 15-pound bags have a lot code (located on the back of the bag) of 432C1KKM03 and a Best Before date of 8/5/15.

They were sold from August 18-25 at the following Dollar General store locations:

  • Arkansas: Perryville and Cabot
  • Louisiana: Baton Rouge; Calhoun; Hineston; Jonesville; Pineville; and Slaughter
  • Mississippi: Magnolia and Vicksburg
  • Tennessee: Memphis

“While the small metal fragments are not embedded in the food itself, it may present a risk of injury if consumed,” Mars Petcare stated. “We are working with Dollar General to ensure that the recalled product is no longer sold and is removed from inventory.”

For more information about the recall, visit pedigree.com/update or call 800-305-5206 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST.

Photo credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Would You Buy Food from a Company Whose CEO Abused a Puppy?

FEB. 23, 2015 UPDATE: Des Hague pleaded guilty today to one count of animal cruelty.

If you purchase a hot dog at the brand-new Levi’s Stadium after it opens next month in San Francisco — or buy food at hundreds of other venues — you’ll be putting money in the pocket of Centerplate catering company’s CEO Des Hague, who was caught on surveillance camera late last month kicking a Doberman puppy in an elevator.

Hague can be seen repeatedly kicking the puppy’s stomach and then choking her — he yanks up her leash so she’s suspended in the air. The video was taken July 27 at the upscale Private Residences at Hotel Georgia in Vancouver.

When BC SPCA investigators tracked down Hague in one of the condos, they found the puppy, named Sade, in a urine-soaked crate, with food and water bowls beyond her reach. When Sade was removed from the crate, she was skittish and appeared to have been physically abused.

“The dog was removed from the owner,” Mary Moriarty, BC SPCA chief prevention and enforcement officer, told Global News.

But Hague, a friend of the puppy’s owner, is not yet facing any animal cruelty charges, although they have been recommended by the BC SPCA.

Hague also remains the CEO of Centerplate.

“Centerplate does not condone the mistreatment of animals, and since learning about the situation late Friday night, have reached out to local authorities to better understand the facts and circumstances related to the incident,” the company said in a statement. “As this is an ongoing review, we cannot comment further at this time.”

Hague released a contrite statement yesterday through his attorney, claiming the incident was “completely and utterly out of character. I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed … a minor frustration with a friend’s pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response.”

Crisis management expert Steve Paskoff told Fortune what a lot of us are probably thinking: “My immediate reaction to this news was, this is a guy who will kick and drag a friend’s dog — what else is there to say about him? And if he treats defenseless dogs this way, how is he treating people?”

So far, no venues — including Denver’s Mile High Stadium, San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium and the Los Angeles Zoo — have cancelled their Centerplate contracts.

“The 49ers organization condemns the abuse of animals and was disturbed to learn of the recent news regarding Des Hague,” it wrote in a statement sent to Fortune. “We believe his actions are not reflective of the efforts and service provided by the hundreds of Centerplate employees working to present our fans with a tremendous experience at Levi’s Stadium.”

In the meantime, stadium guests have started boycotting Centerplate. At BC Palace in Vancouver Sunday, Canadian Football League fans told the media they would not be purchasing any food, and that Hague should be fired immediately.

Hague conveniently deleted his Twitter account, but animal lovers are using the hashtag #DesHague to condemn the puppy-kicking CEO.

You can contact Centerplate via email at info@centerplate.com.

If you’re still planning to buy food from a venue that uses Centerplate (here are all their North American partners), I highly recommend that you watch this surveillance video first.

Lauren Bacall Leaves $10,000 to Her Beloved Papillon

“I was always a dog yearner,” Lauren Bacall told her friend, actress Glenn Close, in a 2008 interview. “I didn’t have a dog, growing up in the city with a working mother. As an only child, I yearned for someone to talk to.”

Bacall finally got her first dog, a Cocker Spaniel, when she was 16. Four years later, in 1945, she and Humphrey Bogart received a Boxer puppy, who they named Harvey, as a wedding gift. Harvey died just six months after Bogey in 1957.

Bacall’s last furry friend was a Papillon named Sophie. She told Close that her favorite thing to do was snuggle with the tiny dog.

“In the morning I have breakfast in the kitchen, and I pick her up and hold her, and her little body warms my chest and makes me feel so good,” Bacall said. “She knows life is all about her. She’s spoiled.”

Sophie may have lost her beloved dog mom, but she won’t lose her lavish lifestyle — Bacall left her $10,000 of her $26.5 million estate, according to the New York Daily News. Sophie’s new pet parent will be Bacall’s son, Sam Robards.

Making sure your dog is provided for in case she outlives you is not that unusual. Yes, there are those infamous, over-the-top cases — like Leona Helmsley wanting to leave $12 million to her Maltese (which was reduced to a paltry $2 million after the “Queen of Mean” died). But it is becoming increasingly common for regular folks to set up reasonable trust funds that will prevent their beloved pets from ending up in a shelter, or worse

Rest in peace, Betty.

Photo via YouTube

Emmy Nominees Asked to Show Their Shelter Pet Love Tonight

During MTV’s Video Music Awards last night, Miley Cyrus brought international attention to youth homelessness in Los Angeles by having a homeless young man accept her award for video of the year. (Way to go, Miley!)

During tonight’s Emmy Awards, the Shelter Pet Project is also hoping to bring worldwide attention to another homelessness problem: the millions of pets in shelters.

Nominees and attendees are being asked to talk about their favorite rescued pets, and to share them on social media with the hashtag #shelterpetlove.

The mission of the Shelter Pet Project is to make shelters the first place potential adopters go to when looking to get a new pet. On Friday, a pre-Emmys “secret room event,” featuring free swag for invited guests and their pets, benefited both the Shelter Pet Project and the Humane Society of the United States.

Tonight the Shelter Pet Project will be liveblogging the Emmy Awards telecast, which kicks off at 5 p.m. on NBC, on its Tumblr account. It will also post updates on Twitter (@shelterpets) and Instagram (@shelterpetproject).

If you’d like to see your favorite Emmy Awards attendees featured, you’re asked to tweet them and ask that they share stories of their favorite shelter pets, using the hashtag #shelterpetlove. (Bryan Cranston’s Twitter is @BryanCranston, just FYI.)

You are also welcome share a picture and story of your own rescued pet using the #shelterpetlove hashtag.

Good luck to all the Emmy nominees, and, more importantly, to all the shelter pets!

Photo via Tumblr

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