Puppy Death?

Video of U.S. Marine Apparently Throwing a Puppy to Its Death-Under Investigation!

Summary of the eRumor:
The eRumor includes links to a video of a U.S. Marine holding a small puppy then apparently throwing it into a ravine to its death. The email includes a sample letter of complaint and addresses of Marine officials to whom it can be sent.

The Truth:
The disturbing video was among the most viewed on YouTube in March, 2008 until it was taken down. It showed what is said to be a U.S. Marine in Iraq holding a puppy by the neck and talking with another Marine. Then the puppy is tossed into a ravine below and lands in a puff of dust.

The Marines have not officially identified the man in the video who threw the dog, but many Internet sites have posted his name and have revealed what they believe to be the whereabouts of his family in Monroe, Washington. The family has disconnected its phone because of hate calls and even death threats.

The video is being analyzed by both military and civilian groups. The puppy is motionless as it is held up by the Marine, which has led to speculation that it may have already been dead or may have even been a toy. As it is thrown, there is an audible yelping sound. Some observers have said, however, that the yelping is not consistent with what would be heard as the puppy gets farther from the camera so it is not clear whether the video is a joke or really documents the death of the puppy.

The video has prompted an outcry of protest and this particular version of the email was distributed by the an animal advocacy group called Kinship Circle.

The Marines are investigating.

Updated 3/7/08

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

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SAMPLE LETTER -- This letter is prepared to inform you about the issue.
Try to shorten and personalize your letter before sending.
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United States Defense Leaders and Marine Corps:

Thank you for addressing the Marines recently videotaped taunting a
defenseless puppy. I urge you to aggressively investigate this crime and
take prompt punitive action.

As you know, a man identified as David Motari dangles a black and white dog
by the scruff of the neck, cooing: "Cute little puppy." Another unnamed
soldier baby-talks: "Ah, so cute, so cute...little puppy." To the horror of
global Internet viewers, Motari then hurls the animal over a cliff into a
rocky gulch. The dog, who looks about 12 weeks old, squeals while flying
through the air. We hear a thud below, signifying the dog's certain death.

"That was mean Motari," the unknown Marine jokes. Motari shrugs and grins.

The question is not WHO the victim is, but WHAT is done to him or her.
Criminologists view the brutality of an act, regardless of the victim's
identity, as a precursor to future violence. Animal cruelty is a key trait
in the American Psychiatric Association's criterion for conduct disorders.
David Motari displays characteristics associated with sociopaths.

I respectfully ask the Milit ary Po lice Department of Hawaii, where Motari is
stationed, to conduct a thorough probe. If Motari and other suspects are
apprehended, please advocate maximum penalties for aggravated cruelty and
intentional killing of a companion animal. Certainly, Motari and his
accomplice ought to undergo psychological counseling.

This is not the first video leak of soldiers tormenting animals in Iraq. I
hope this case prompts Defense Department officials to make regulatory
changes for animals in war zones. Specifically, I encourage the DOD to:
* Insert an anti-cruelty clause in the Universal Code of Military Justice.
* Utilize non-lethal vaccination to cope with rabies in war zones.
* Permit soldiers to bring vetted pets back to the U.S. with them.

The men in the video do not represent other brave men and women who serve
our country. This is all the more reason to pursue rigorous judicial action
against the few who sully America's moral rep ute.
Thank you for holding animal abusers accountable for their violent crimes.

Sincerely,

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS
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FULL CONTACT INFORMATION
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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Brigadier General Robert E. Milstead, Jr.
Director, Marine Corps Public Affairs
Division of Public Affairs - Command Element
CMC (PA), Headquarters Marine Corps
3000 Marine Corps; Pentagon 4B548
Washington, DC 20350-3000
ph: 703-614-1492/4080/8010; fax: 703-697-5362
email: robert.milstead@usmc.mil

General Michael Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps ph: 703-614-1034; fax: 703-614-2358
email: comrel@hqmc.usmc.mil

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII
Colonel Mark A. Dungan, Commanding Officer
Richard A. Kirby GS12, Staff Secretary
Office of the Commanding Officer
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Box 63002; MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI 96863-3002
ph: DSN-457-8877, 808-257-8877
email: richard.a.kirby@usmc.mil

Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Public Affairs Office
c/o Community Relations Section
Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Box 63002; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii 96863-3002
ph: 808-2 57-884 0, 808-257-8875
email: MCBH.PAO.CR.FMB@usmc.mil

Military Police Department, Marine Corps Base Hawaii
Box 63062; Kaneohe Bay, HI 96863
Provost Marshal: 808-257-2103, ext 330
Provost Sergeant: 808-257-2103, ext 328
Criminal Investigation Division: 808-257-1305

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
PUBLIC CONTACT: ph: +1 703-428-0711 +1
U.S. Department of Defense ASK A QUESTION/SEND A COMMENT:
http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/questions.aspx

Dr. Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
U.S. Department of Defense
1000 Defen se Pen tagon; Washington, DC 20301-1000

Gordon R. England, Deputy Secretary of Defense
1010 Defense Pentagon; Washington, DC 20301-1010

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EMAIL BLOCK: All emails found for this alert.
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robert.milstead@usmc.mil, comrel@hqmc.usmc.mil, richard.a.kirby@usmc.mil,
MCBH.PAO.CR.FMB@usmc.mil

EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR SENIOR DEFENSE LEADERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
If you feel strongly about this issue, please take the time to print out
your letter to send by fax/mail to the contacts without email addresses.
GET FORMATTED LETTER, WORD DOC: kinshipcircle@accessus.net

The e-petition circulating about this is largely useless. There is no
government or military official who will seriously consider an Internet
petition with unverifiable signatures.

*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee validity of email addresses. During
campaigns, recipients may change or disable their email addresses. Emails
from government or corporate websites may be incorrect.

* Puppy Torture Video & Related Comment Links
http://www.buzzfeed.com/link/Puppy_Torture_Video/david_motari_-_is_this_the_man_behind_the_video
* VIDEO: Soldier David Motari hurls puppy to his death
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/43462/9fb16ab3/us_soldaat_gooit_puppy.html
* VIDEO: US Soldier throws puppy off cliff
http://digg.com/people/US_Soldier_throws_puppy_off_cliff_(video)?t=13323218
* Marine in animal cruelty probe
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23317978-5006003,00.html
* PETITION: Stand Against Puppy-Killing Soldiers
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/fight-puppy-killing-soldiers

KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES:
* American Soldier Shoots Yet Another Poor Dog In Iraq?
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/digest/2007_10.html#anchor6
* 1/19/07: Latest Casualty: Soldiers Torment Crippled Dog In Iraq
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1626&seriesfirst=true

Action Campaigns I Literature I Animal Disaster Aid Networking
info@kinshipcircle.org or kinshipcircle@accessus.net
http://www.KinshipCircle.org * http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/

PLEASE MAKE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO KINSHIP CIRCLE:
ht tp://w ww.kinshipcircle.org/donation/