Centerplate CEO Accused of Abusing Dog Resigns

Desmond Hague of the catering company Centerplate was caught on surveillance video kicking a Doberman puppy

The CEO of a catering company used by Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center has resigned after video surfaced showing him kicking a dog.

Desmond Hague, CEO of Centerplate, has resigned the company announced Tuesday describing the controversy that erupted after the video was made public as a "very unusual and unfortunate set of circumstances.”.

Surveillance video taken inside a hotel elevator in Vancouver, B.C., shows a man kicking a small dog and yanking hard at its collar.

At one point, the video shoes him jerking so hard that he lifts the puppy off the ground by its neck.

The man was later identified as Hague. 

Initially, the company announced that Hague would seek counseling. The former CEO also apologized for his actions.

However, animal rights activists and animal lovers around the world continued to pressure the company to take action and organizations to boycott the catering company. 

In the official release Tuesday, the board of directors mentioned this pressure as a deciding factor in the mmanagement change.

"Their voices helped us to frame our deliberations," said chairman Joe O’Donnell.

The company's COO Chris Verros has been appointed to the role of acting president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Hague has resigned from Centerplate, according to a statement from the company on Tuesday.

Chris Verros has been appointed acting president and chief executive officer, effective immediately.

"We want to reiterate that we do not condone nor would we ever overlook the abuse of animals," Joe O'Donnell, chairman of the board of directors for Centerplate, said in a statement.

"Following an extended review of the incident involving Mr. Hague, I'd like to apologize for the distress that this situation has caused to so many; but also thank our employees, clients and guests who expressed their feelings about this incident. Their voices helped us to frame our deliberations during this very unusual and unfortunate set of circumstances."

Global News reports that the local SPCA got ahold of the video and is actively investigating. The officers reportedly found the dog in a crate surrounded by its own urine.

"I take full responsibility for my actions," Hague said in a statement to Global News. "This incident is completely and utterly out of character and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed."

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