dogcruelty.png

A screen shot from a video shows Des Hague, chief executive of Centerplate, Inc., yanking a leashed dog by its neck and into the air.

(Screen shot)

The chief executive officer of the food concessions company for Portland Timbers home games has apologized for repeatedly kicking a dog and yanking the leashed dog in the air, actions captured on an elevator video camera.

UPDATE: Centerplate issued a statement Tuesday evening about its chief executive, Des Hague. The statement:

We are aware of the incident involving Centerplate CEO Des Hague and the attention surrounding it. The company has now gathered all of the current facts from local authorities and is in the process of conducting an internal review. Centerplate does not condone the mistreatment of animals by any of its employees. Mr. Hague has agreed to attend counseling to address his anger management issues and has publicly expressed he is deeply ashamed and remorseful for his behavior. He has apologized to everyone directly involved as well as to the company's clients and employees, and has pledged a significant, personal, multi-year financial commitment to help support the protection and safety of animals. There will be a public statement as soon as Centerplate completes its review.

The incident, which occurred in July at a Vancouver, B.C., apartment building, has sparked outrage among animal-rights activists in British Columbia and the U.S. — and

at Centerplate operations across Canada. Centerplate has stadium concession contracts at several stadiums in the U.S. and Canada. Connecticut-based Centerplate has 350 clients, 65 percent of them sports venues, according to Fortune.

Some Timbers fans have posted Twitter statements saying they would boycott Centerplate at Providence Park.

The case has been sent to prosecutors in British Columbia with a recommendation for criminal charges, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The Timbers issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, saying the team has "been assured Centerplate is reviewing the incident internally. Centerplate employs hundreds of people in Portland, and this matter in no way reflects the quality service Centerplate employees in Portland deliver. At this point we await the results of the Centerplate review and will have no further comment at this time. The Portland Timbers obviously do not condone animal cruelty or the mistreatment of animals in any way, shape or form."

Timbers spokesman Chris Metz, who said Centerplate's contract is with the team, declined to say when the contract is scheduled to expire or whether the team has contemplated ending the contract over the incident.

An Oregon Humane Society official expressed outrage at the video on Tuesday.

"The actions depicted in this video are deplorable," said Tanya Roberts, Oregon Humane Society Training and Behavior Manager. "The dog looked terrified. It is the exact opposite of what we expect the human animal bond to be."

Centerplate's Twitter page says the company does not condone animal abuse.

British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officers visited the downtown Vancouver condominium that is believed to be the home of the Doberman pinscher puppy seen in the elevator video, The Vancouver Sun reported Sunday.

"...they found a Doberman pinscher puppy in its crate, surrounded by the stench of its own urine with its food and water bowls out of reach, according to court documents," The Sun reported. "Once let out of her cage, Sade — the one-year-old female puppy — was skittish around people and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officers said she appeared physically abused, according to the information to obtain a search warrant filed in B.C. Provincial Court and obtained by The Sun."

-- Allan Brettman