MIAMI – A man who neighbors say was filmed abusing his dog after it defecated on the balcony of a downtown Miami high-rise spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday.
Dog owner Dionisio Rodriguez said the incident was due to his own frustration and that he used training methods from a professional trainer.
Rodriguez released a statement after the video, which authorities say shows him treating his dog roughly.
“The video does not reflect how I treat my dogs in everyday life,” he said. “It was a moment of frustration and I recognize that I acted wrongly.”
However, Rodriguez’s statement did not allay animal rights activists’ concerns.
Local 10 caught up with Christine Snelgrove, a recognized dog trainer at Bauser’s Pet Training, to get her expert opinion on the viral video.
Snelgrove, who uses positive reinforcement methods in her training, told Local 10’s Jacey Birch that she was dismayed by what she saw.
“It almost makes me cry to see this,” Snelgrove said. “I don’t think there’s any need for any kind of training like this. To me, this is abuse – this is pure abuse.”
Snelgrove also explained that there are more effective and humane methods of dog training.
“You don’t have to intimidate a dog to train him,” she added.
Miami-Dade Animal Services also investigated the incident and released a statement that Rodriguez claimed he used techniques from a trainer.
The statement states, among other things: “He followed the training procedures given to him by the dog trainer. The correction method used on the dogs was not recommended.”
Despite the disturbing footage, authorities did not find sufficient evidence of abuse to press charges against Rodriguez. Instead, he was accused of not having up-to-date vaccinations or tags for his two dogs. Authorities said he was also advised not to leave his animals unattended on the balcony.
The controversy surrounding Rodriguez intensified after another video emerged showing his dog abandoned in the rain on the same balcony.
Following these incidents, Rodriguez apologized on Instagram, this time in Spanish, saying:
“I would like to sincerely apologize to anyone I may have offended and I am taking steps to ensure this never happens again.”
He also claimed to have received death threats and pleaded for the threats against his family to stop.
“I am ready to take responsibility for my actions, but I do not believe violence is the right way,” he said.
As the videos continue to circulate on the Internet, the debate about appropriate dog training methods has intensified.
Animal rights activists and professional trainers like Snelgrove emphasize the importance of using humane, positive reinforcement techniques when training animals.
Rodriguez’s actions have been condemned by many, but some are also calling for understanding and education on better training methods to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Click here for more information on reporting animal cruelty.
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