FLINT (WWJ/AP) – Flint-area officials are investigating a suspected case of animal cruelty after a video posted online showed a child repeatedly throwing a puppy into a street.
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell told The Flint Journal he was “very disturbed” by the video, which he saw after it was shared on Facebook. The newspaper said it shows a 4-year-old boy carrying the dog toward the street several times as the animal tries to run back into a yard.
“I looked at the video, just horrified,” Pickell said.
In the video, the dog — named “Tippy” — sometimes lands on his legs, head or back.
Pickell told newspaper the video was viewed by thousands of people across the world. Even a short comment about the situation on his own Facebook account — which did not include the video — was shared 75,808 times.
No charges have been filed, according to the county prosecutor’s office. Flint police are involved in the case and Pickell wants to know whether anyone who should have stopped the boy could face charges.
Pickell said the boy was with his mother at the home of his grandfather, who owns the puppy. Genesee County Animal Control retrieved the 8-week-old dog, which wasn’t injured, from the home.
Animal Control officials have been looking after the puppy and plan to find it a home.
A petition on YouSign.org asks the public to demand that the boy’s not be allowed to own pets in the future.
The petition language reads, in part, “We, the undersigned, believe this family should be charged for these reckless actions and therefore ask authorities to impose a lifetime ban on owning animals for both the parents and the child. The parents are equally responsible for this situation, as they should have never left the child to play alone on the street. This child and his parents are a threat to any pet out there. If that child mistreated this defenceless puppy at such a young age, who knows what he is capable of when he grows older? No animal would be safe in their custody, after what happened with this puppy. “
Many of the thousands of social media users commenting on the video are unforgiving, while others express concern for the child as well as the dog.
On Google+, Janet Moreland writes, “This is awful. He’ll be next mass murder unless someone gets him help. Sad.”
Tatiana Q. commented,”If he’s not taught better, he will be the next school bully! I wish parents taught their children to respect people and animals.”
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