Marines Get Involved In Puppy Throwing Video
Posted March 4, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The following video contains disturbing scenes. Viewer discretion is advised.
It is a shocking and disturbing video. But is it real?
That’s what the U.S. Marines are asking after a video surfaced on YouTube that seems to show a member of the Semper Fi brigade throwing a little dog off a cliff.
“Cute little puppy, huh?” one man in fatigues is seen saying as he holds a furry creature by the scruff of the neck.
“Oh, so cute,” responds a voice off camera.
Then, with the image panning off to the side obscuring what happens next, the sound of a strong whimper is heard and the second voice is chimes in, saying, “That’s mean.”
An uproar has followed since the apparent animal cruelty surfaced, and the Marine Corp has pledged to get to the bottom of it. “That mistreatment of a puppy, that is a violation of anybody’s standards,” avers Maj. Chris Perrine. “And the Marine Corps sets extremely high standards.”
This isn’t the first time American soldiers have been accused of torturing animals while on duty. Another video that showed up on YouTube a year ago allegedly shows soldiers in Iraq throwing a grenade at a flock of sheep.
And the People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals is circulating a video of soldiers seen throwing rocks at a wounded dog. The voice on that tape is chilling. “That is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!” he laughs.
The marines stress none of this reflects the behaviour of the majority of its soldiers or the way they normally conduct themselves. “There are many examples of marines who adopt pets and bring them back from Iraq and demonstrate their compassion on a daily basis,” Perrine adds.
In the meantime, the marines are looking not for a few good men, but just one – the soldier depicted in the puppy video. They believe they’ve identified the individual in question. If found culpable, he could face a charge of conduct unbecoming a marine. Military justice officials would then decide if he should face a court-martial.
The video has achieved such notoriety, it’s now been removed from YouTube for violating the site’s policies.
