Animal Defenders International: Outrage at U.S. Marine Throwing Puppy to Her Death in Iraq

An online video recently broadcast on Youtube, shows a smiling U.S. Marine in combat gear throwing a puppy over a cliff in Iraq to its certain death. The shocking video has enraged thousands of viewers who protested before it was removed from the website.

The Marine Corps Base in Hawaii is currently investigating the incident, since the Marine in question, a Lance Corporal, is reported to be with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment there. His unit returned from Iraq in October.

Animal Defenders International (ADI) has written to U.S. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, to protest in the strongest possible terms the senseless act of a U.S. Marine in Iraq killing this puppy and commenting while doing so in a child-like voice, “Cute little puppy.”

Jan Creamer, ADI Chief Executive, commented: “The U.S. Marine who performed this barbaric act, slaughtering an innocent puppy as a joke, is a disgrace to his uniform and to his country. The idea of committing such a cruel act on a defenseless young pup is totally alien to the ethics and honor of any Marine on duty. He should be dishonorably discharged and prosecuted, with the severest sentence handed out to him, as he has committed a heinous crime against a helpless animal.”

The incident reflects the dangerous level of desensitization of serving Americans in Iraq. Psychologists have acknowledged that those who commit sadistic acts to animals are also likely to behave violently with vulnerable people, such as children. Such was the case with Steven D. Green, who was convicted of raping and killing a 14 year old Iraqi girl and her family. He also had an alleged record of animal abuse similar to that depicted in the video in question. Serving Americans who commit such acts of cruelty to animals are a potential hazard to those they are meant to protect and have no place in the armed forces.

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Jennifer Blum, Program Director
Animal Defenders International
953 Mission Street, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 543-2344
Fax: (415) 543-2343
E-mail: JenniferBlum@ad-international.org
Internet: http://www.ad-international.org

Animal Defenders International
With offices in London and San Francisco, Animal Defenders International (ADI) campaigns to protect animals in entertainment and experiments; worldwide traffic in endangered species; vegetarianism; factory farming; pollution and conservation. ADI involves itself in international animal rescues as well as educational work on animals, conservation and environment. Our evidence of the torment to animals has led to campaigns and legislative action all over the world to protect them.

This release was published on openPR.