CEO placed on probation after dog-kicking incident

The CEO of catering company Centerplate has been placed on indefinite probation – and will donate time and money to animal welfare efforts – the company’s board of directors said, after a security video that showed him kicking a dog triggered outrage on social media.

The incident involving CEO Des Hague is “unacceptable,” said a statement from the board of the Stamford, Connecticut-based company, which serves large sports and entertainment venues.  

A Vancouver hotel's security video footage, obtained by Canada's Global News, showed Hague kicking a dog on a leash inside an elevator.

The video spread rapidly on social media, and an online petition calling for Hague to be fired had about 62,000 signatures as of early afternoon Friday. Other critics have called for a boycott of Centerplate concessions.

Hague has released a statement saying he was “ashamed and deeply embarrassed."

"A minor frustration with a friend’s pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response," he said.

Centerplate’s board said it had convened a special meeting after an internal investigation and had determined that Hague was "truly ashamed" of his actions.

It said Hague was given a written censure and placed on indefinite probation. It also said he would personally donate $100,000 to the Sade Foundation, which was established to protect animals in Vancouver. He will also serve 1,000 hours of community service to support an animal welfare organization.

Centerplate said it would also donate a portion of its sales to the Sade Foundation.

Hague still faces potential charges in Vancouver, the company said.

Reuters