Dog-kicking video taints food vendor

The surveillance video shows a man in an elevator repeatedly kicking a small dog and yanking his leash hard enough to lift the animal off the floor.

Investigators in Vancouver identified the suspect as Desmond Hague, chief executive officer of Centerplate, the Connecticut-based catering giant that operates concessions at Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center, among many other venues.

The incident, which occcurred in July, has sparked outrage among animal-rights activists in British Columbia and the U.S. — and prompted calls for boycotts at Centerplate operations across Canada.

Authorities only became aware of the alleged abuse last week, when an employee at the Private Residences at Hotel Georgia in downtown Vancouver sent them a copy of the video.

The case was sent to prosecutors Sunday or Monday with a recommendation for criminal charges, the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals told U-T Watchdog.

“It’s an unprovoked attack on a dog,” spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said in a telephone interview. “In our reading of the law, he has violated the law. It’s not up to us to make a moral judgment on it.”

The videotaped incident has been widely reported in Canada and picked up by several U.S. news organizations.

Football fans told Global News in Vancouver they would avoid purchasing food or concessions from Centerplate during the BC Lions’ game because of the incident.

“I’m not buying anything that this guy sells here,” ticket holder John Kinney told the Canadian news channel. “It’s a disgrace.”

Hague issued a statement saying his behavior was “completely and utterly out of character” and that he was “ashamed and deeply embarassed” by what he had done.

He said a minor frustration with a friend’s dog caused him to lose his composure.

“I have reached out to the SPCA and have personally apologized to the dog’s owner,” he wrote. “At this time, I would like to extend my apology to my family, company and clients, as I understand that this has also reflected negatively on them.”

Chortyk said the investigation found that Hague is the owner of the year-old Doberman Pinscher named “Sade” and that the July incident may not have been the first time the animal was mistreated.

“The way she behaves certainly gives the indication of fearfulness, and that indicates she has received this treatment before,” Chortyk said. “Our paperwork indicates that it was his dog.”

The catering conglomerate did not respond to questions from U-T Watchdog, but told Global News in a statement that the incident was a “personal matter” for the company executive.

“Centerplate in no way condones 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 wrote.

Centerplate provides food and concessions at major sports and other venues across North America, including Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center.

The Mayor’s Office, which oversees the city-owned stadium, did not respond to a request for comment on the elevator incident.

At the U-T’s request, officials did release terms of the Qualcomm Stadium agreement with Centerplate, which dates back to 1984 and will expire in February 2015. The contract generates about $17 million a year in gross revenue, with about 30 percent of that going to the city.

Steven Johnson of the San Diego Convention Center said the agency is aware of the allegations. He said Centerplate has served the facility well for almost 20 years and is a key part of its success.

“While deeply troubling, Mr. Hague’s actions are personal and are not a reflection of the hundreds of local San Diego Centerplate employees that deliver the highest quality of service at the San Diego Convention Center every day,” Johnson said in a statement.

The convention center earns about $6 million a year in commissions from its Centerplate contract, which runs through 2026, Johnson said.

Kelli Schry of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA said the organization takes animal abuse very seriously and will wait to see how Centerplate addresses these allegations.

Desmond Hague (PRNewsFoto/Centerplate)

“For now, we’re happy to hear that this dog is safe and receiving the care she needs from the BC SPCA,” said Schry, who urged anyone suspecting animal abuse locally to call (619) 243-3466.

Kristin Simon, a spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, said the group was appalled by the videotape and would be following the case closely.

“Our concern is for justice for this dog as well as any other animals this person may contact with,” she said. “People who abuse animals rarely do it once. We’ll be pushing for a vigorous prosection.”

The animal was confiscated by Vancouver authorities and is now waiting to be adopted. “The dog’s in our care now,” Chortyk said. “We’ll make sure she gets a nice home.”

If convicted, Hague could face up to two years in jail, a $75,000 fine and a ban on animal ownership, the SPCA said.