Sometimes I’m sorry to be morally certain there is no hell, because there are definitely people who deserve to roast in it for all eternity. Here’s one, via Deadspin, a CEO who was caught on elevator security film abusing a Doberman puppy:
The asshole you see repeatedly kicking and yanking this dog all over the place—at one point lifting the dog up off the ground by the leash—is Desmond Hague, CEO of Centerplate. If you’ve ever been to a sporting event, you’ve probably bought something from him; Centerplate is a food service company that makes the over-priced food in many of the stadiums in North America.
You can see the video at the link. Basically, it shows a heartless prick mistreating a beautiful Doberman puppy who is clearly scared shitless of the asshole at the other end of her leash.
Hague issued a statement saying his behavior was “completely and utterly out of character” and that he was “ashamed and deeply embarassed” by what he had done.
He said a minor frustration with a friend’s dog caused him to lose his composure.
“I have reached out to the SPCA and have personally apologized to the dog’s owner,” he wrote. “At this time, I would like to extend my apology to my family, company and clients, as I understand that this has also reflected negatively on them.”
That’s all bullshit, though, since it turns out the dog is his, and the SPCA found evidence that she’s been serially abused. Man’s inhumanity to man is sickening enough, but I just don’t understand how anyone could treat an innocent puppy that way.
I hope the poor little Dobie gets a good home with a family who will treat her right. And I hope next time Desmond Hague decides to kick a dog, it will be a pit bull who turns around and latches onto his scrotum with a death grip. I also hope Hague loses his fucking job.
Anoniminous
If he does I see a brilliant career in Law Enforcement management in his future.
srv
Mad max was on a leash, maybe this will straighten him out
Keith P
I’d honestly rather watch a beheading video than this.
MattF
Kicking puppies. What’s next, shooting unarmed teenagers? Oh, wait…
Rathskeller
Sometimes I’m uncomfortable with the way that we’ve become moral scolds, able to find out people’s crimes via videos and then endlessly gossip about them, as if we don’t all have failings.
But then stuff like this happens, and it’s close to miraculous, a wonderful miracle. This is an evil man. Bring the sins into the light. And get that fucking dog out of there.
kdaug
Boils my blood.
There’s probably some answer about “his deep feelings of powerless and insecurity and blah,blah,blah…” ad nauseum. But know what? Fuck it. Time to cull the cultural herd.
I don’t go to ball parks, I am not a customer of his, but I would be filled with joy to see this scumbag retire to the streets with snazzy new rags, a cardboard sign, and a cup in hand.
scav
And all he thinks he needs to justify / excuse his behavior is “minor frustration”. Imagine this charmer in a real hissy fit in a day gone pear-shaped.
Villago Delenda Est
Better Idea. We put this vile piece of shit on the floor of an elevator in say, the Empire State Building, and invite everyone who rides the elevator to kick this vile piece of CEO shit repeatedly.
shelley
There’s no way I could look at that video. Knowing that I’d want to empty my bank account trying to hire a hit man to off that ass-hole.
My Truth Hurts
Anyone have any contact info for Des or his company? I’d like to ask him how big of a man he feels like after abusing his female puppy. Then I’d like to mention that I and thousand of my friends, devout sport fans, will be boycotting their company until this asshat is thrown out on his hat.
Trollhattan
@kdaug: The worst that can possibly happen is he lands softly on the earth’s surface courtesy of his parachute spun from the finest of gold thread. Just ask Don Blankenship.
The Other Chuck
@scav: Meh, even sincere apologies can be full of language like that, and the rest of it seemed like it was going somewhere good. But of course it turns out he’s a liar too, quelle surprise!
Goblue72
Your average CEO is a sociopath. This is just an illustration, not an aberration.
Citizen_X
So wait, there are CEOs that don’t kick puppies?
Felinious Wench
It’s a privately-held company so he may weather the storm, unfortunately. If it were a public company he’d most likely be forced out.
CEOs have one major job; represent the company to investors and/or customers/potential customers. That’s pretty much it. He’s probably done.
TaMara (BHF)
@Keith P: I’m sick just reading it. And I just sat down on the floor and apologized to Bixby for yelling at him and giving him a time out this morning for chasing the cats.
Goblue72
@My Truth Hurts: A-hole CEOs are like drug kingpins. Take one down, and another just rises to take his place.
? Martin
CEOs aren’t allowed to kick their employees any more, so he has no choice but to give it to the puppy. I blame Obama.
kindness
@Rathskeller:
Well yes that is true but most of us don’t kick puppies nor shoot jaywalking teens dead either.
Violet
If he’s kicking the puppy he may also be abusing his kids and/or wife. Does he have a family?
scav
@The Other Chuck: But, thinking about it, a sincere apology that actually believes that verbiage is nearly more chilling than a boilerplate-spouting liar embellishing with as many minimizing adjectives as possible. The latter that might actually understand he fucked up and have a glimpse of how bad he was / is — the former is measured in degrees Kelvin.
gelfling545
being caught.
My Truth Hurts
They have a Facebook page. Wonderful. Have at it folks.
Tim F.
I could watch about fifteen seconds of it and jesus christ, what a worthless excuse for a person. The dog walks into the elevator in absolute terror and she just cowers on the floor in the most submissive posture possible, in proper heel position by the way, while he just casually kicks her repeatedly for no goddamn reason. Someone else can watch the rest.
The thing that most gets me is his casual attitude. Someone in an unthinking rage commits his whole body to what he is doing. This guy just pushes the floor button, kicks the dog, chills, kicks the dog and then god knows what else. He does it like he would check his email. He just casually becomes this repellent abusing piece of shit as soon as no one is looking. Ten bucks says women who dated him can tell stories.
Violet
Why the hell would he lie about the dog being his friend’s dog? That sociopathic.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Paint him black and dump him on the streets on St. Louis. Fucking asshole.
Dogs worship their humans. You can abuse the shit out of them and they will stay. They will not fight back. They love you as any religious devotee loves their god. Anyone who abuses a dog that has given their canine heart to a human in this fashion is an utter monster not worthy of breathing the same air as the rest of us.
Woodrowfan
will NOT watch. I will go hug my dogs, repeatedly..
Loneoak
Maybe let’s not talk about pit bulls around here? It’s not as if dobermans lack the capability to latch onto a well-deserving scrotum (indeed, they were bred for anti-human security whereas pitbulls were traditionally culled if they bit humans), so I’m not sure why you needed to switch the breed to achieve the metaphor.
Paul in KY
@Violet: Because he’s a piece of scum who probably lies all day as part of his business. He lies like you & I breathe.
Paul in KY
@Loneoak: Because pit bulls bite & hang on & chew. Other breeds don’t generally do that.
I would have said place him in a sack with a rabid wolverine & then shake sack violently.
Mr. Longform
Let’s see. I’m a violence-prone sociopath. I hate people. I enjoy abusing beings over whom I already have pretty much complete control (dogs, employees, children, poors, olds, etc.) I have no personal integrity. No one really likes me, but some people stick with me out of fear or because of their own sickness. I just can’t decide: should I be a cop? CEO? Republican congressman?
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Tim F.:
Sucker bet. I hope they do.
I couldn’t watch the video. But just reading about it, I want to tie him down and beat him till he just can’t walk anymore. With apologies to Jason Isbell for the inelegant paraphrase.
Patricia Kayden
@shelley: I couldn’t watch that video either. I always turn the channel when the ASPCA commercials with all those abused dogs comes on. My stomach cannot take watching people or animals being abused. That CEO is a monster and his “apology” should be followed up with some prison time for animal abuse. Or he can get some counseling from Michael Vick. Sick dude.
Betty Cracker
@Tim F.: That’s what got me too. The dog was doing nothing wrong (and even if she were, there are no excuses for his actions), and she was clearly terrified and utterly submissive. The guy’s a sick fuck.
@Loneoak: Not trying to start Pit Bull Wars. The breed does have a reputation for tenaciousness in holding prey. That is all.
CONGRATULATIONS!
@My Truth Hurts: Spare the link, spoil the CEO.
https://www.facebook.com/centerplate
I have contributed. Looks like others are as well.
Calouste
@Violet:
Probably more than one.
SFAW
Fucking weasel words to absolve yourself of any responsibility or recognition of the evilness of your behavior, you asshole.
It wasn’t even your dog, motherfucker? I’m a cat person, not big on dogs, but if I had been the puppy’s owner, you’d be lucky to be still breathing. And I’m pretty much of a wimp, and I don’t “carry” (open or otherwise). Maybe if the dog’s owner slapped the shit out of your kid or mistress, you’d understand? (Probably not, you’d probably give him/her tips on how to do it “properly.”)
@Paul in KY:
What did that poor wolverine ever do to you, that you want it to suffer so? (And I don’t mean the rabies, either.)
El Caganer
@Violet: You mean, of human beings? I can’t see it.
The Other Chuck
@CONGRATULATIONS!:
Looks like they’re actively removing comments.
I suspect there’s more of us than them.
Edit: nope, looks like facebook’s UI is just a confusing mess as usual.
pamelabrown53
@Felinious Wench: Wouldn’t you know this SOB is CEO of a company that’s not only “privately held” but one that absolutely soaks its customers? This is what, in part, enrages me about the professional sports/stadium culture. We all have to pay through the nose to have the stadiums built. Then the ticket prices are outrageous. If you can scrape together the price of a ticket or two, there’s nosebleed parking (unless you can pay) and near gold prices for substandard ball park”food”.
P.S. it’s scary what some folks do if they believe they’re unobserved. Makes me think of powerful men whose sexual proclivities run to S&M.
Bex
If I could adopt that doggie I’d name her Karma in honor of what’s waiting for ol’ Desmond.
scav
@Calouste: Maybe he kicks his friend’s wife after minor irritation?
PaulW
at what point does he get arrested for cruelty to animals? there are still laws on that, right?!
PaulW
at what point does he get arrested for cruelty to animals? there are still laws on that, right?!
SFAW
One wonders if he would have treated it better if it had been a golden retriever.
The Other Chuck
@pamelabrown53:
What goes on between consenting adults doesn’t even remotely merit the same kind of condemnation.
Skerry
Fortune Magazine article about #DesHague and the “scandal” and possible impacts on the business and his future. No video
brantl
Well, the dog is black, so he may get away with it.
PaulW
that SOB CEO’s company does service at the Tropicana Field.
Time to call the Rays front office and have at it.
jibeaux
Count me as one of the ones who can’t handle the ugliness. All I ever know to do in these situations is to give money if I have it, currently down to the wire, and spread a little goodness if I can’t. Extra walks and belly rubs, then, and maybe a slice of turkey from the fridge.
Ella in New Mexico
Interview his current/former female (or male) romantic partners. I’m betting 1000 to 1 he is/was an abusive, controlling prick with them, too.
People like this get off because it’s “only an animal”, when the truth is this behavior is almost always a reflection of how they treat human beings. History shows we could have prevented many severe injuries and deaths from intimate partners if we had only paid attention earlier, when an animal was the victim.
If I lived closer than 1700 miles from this guy I’d seriously consider stalking him just to stand there in the elevator and harass his punk ass.
pamelabrown53
@The Other Chuck: You’re right but it’s the same psychology: POWER.
P.S. I agree with Ella in New Mexico’s comment directly above me.
Patricia Kayden
@PaulW: Yeah, I’m wondering about that too. Funny what certain people can get away with.
libarbarian
#NotAlllCEOs
CONGRATULATIONS!
@PaulW: Thankfully, this happened in Canada, so they’ve already taken his dog and are trying to get charges filed. He could (won’t) do two years in the joint for this. Too bad it wouldn’t be American jail, but I’ll take anything that gets this puppy-kicking monster off the street for even a day.
They can also ban him permanently from having pets and I hope they do.
jibeaux
Oh, and smuggle food and airplane bottles in whenever possible to overpriced arenas, or just eat and drink later. Actually most stadiums will let you bring in sealed water and snacks like peanuts too. Fight the power.
Calouste
@Ella in New Mexico:
Asshole somewhere, asshole everywhere.
Some assholes can hide their assholeness quite well in specific situations, which is why it is a common tip to women who are going on a date to pay attention to how their date is treating other people, like the wait staff.
SiubhanDuinne
@PaulW:
Is there a list someplace of all the sports venues with Centerplate contracts? I had a quick look at the company’s website but didn’t see a list.
Calouste
@pamelabrown53:
And then the product is pretty shitty as well. Ok, last game I went to was a Mariners game, which kind of explains things. But 4 hours for a 9 innings game?
Yatsuno
This shit comes out on National Dog Day. Fortunately he’ll get reamed by the BC authorities over this. And I’ll check the local stadiums to see if Centerplate works concessions there, especially my alma mater.
Nicole
@Betty Cracker: A reputation that has been greatly exaggerated by the media. It doesn’t help, seeing as how many cases of canine abuse involve abused pit bulls. Their (largely media-spun) reputation does nothing but make the breed appear more appealing to a type of personality that shouldn’t own any dog.
In other news, my 4-year-old was bitten by a Toy Australian Shepherd that a guy brought into the subway car. Not a big deal; no skin broken, but I had no idea such a breed even existed. My uncle had one of the full-size ones. Good dog, but total predator; she took a bird right out of the air once.
Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)
This is the sort of people we think have “leadership potential.” People with “killer instinct”. People who are “relentless”. People who kick dogs.
Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)
@Nicole: Pit bulls and a few other breeds (akitas, mastiffs) are really big, strong dogs with powerful jaws. They can easily kill a small adult or a child in a few minutes.
There are plenty of vicious, mean-tempered Chihuahuas out there but they don’t really loom large on people’s lists of fears. The meanest Chihuahua I ever met was toothless, so that was seriously unintimidating.
Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)
@pamelabrown53: Hiring a prostitute to flog you is an old Western tradition and has nothing to do if people can see you or not. De Sade went to prison IIRC not because he hired prostitutes to flog him but because of accusations he tried to murder one with poisoned candy. DC Dommes are not, legally, prostitutes due to the ins and outs of American law, but that doesn’t mean the client isn’t getting his jollies. Pain releases a lot of crazy CNS arousal chemicals, some of which can cause euphoria.
The GOPers that are rumored to be the Dommes’ best clients keep that shit secret because of the hypocritical, repressive religion communities they belong to. New England has a vocal, out, and proud S&M activist community.
geg6
This fucker needs to die. Immediately, if not sooner. Fuck this shit.
Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)
Btw, you oughta ask BDSM activists in New England about cops. Apparently consensual paddling is an offense before the law and the Virgin Mary, but a non-consensual battery is good old-fashioned police work.
? Martin
@Nicole: Problem with pit bulls isn’t that they are more inclined to bite (they aren’t). It that when they bite, they don’t let go, and too often maim or kill.
It’s the difference between a knife and a gun. You’re more likely to get hurt by a knife, more likely to be killed by a gun. One is more tolerable than the other.
Roger Moore
@Violet:
Got it in one.
Nicole
@SFAW: His sort of personality doesn’t want to own a Golden Retriever. He wants a “macho” dog.
Ruviana
Knowing that the asshole no longer has the puppy makes me feel better. Poor little kiddo. Hope she finds a really good forever owner.
Trollhattan
@Another Holocene Human (now with new computer):
Anybody who’s recently reworked their homeowner’s insurance has probably answered a questionaire about whether certain dog breeds are kept in the household. Insurance actuaries work from actual data when compiling the lists–they know what dogs bite and what it costs in settlements. Nothing on the list surprised me, FWIW.
RaflW
That bastard should go to jail. Or at least face arrest by 15 or so heavily armed and twitchy, angry cops.
Culture of Truth
and to think yesterday I saved a worm. I felt bad because it was on hot pavement. poor little guy.
Trollhattan
@RaflW: Can we round up that many black and Hispanic cops? Because that’s how I’d like it to go down.
Lizzy L
Not gonna watch. My blood pressure doesn’t need to go that high. Want the mofo fired. Want “Abuser” tattooed on his forehead.
And I’m going to take my dog out for a lovely, friendly, joyful walk, right now.
Gindy51
@geg6: Send him to one of those African villages to help with the ebola victim’s bodies, no protection.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)
@jibeaux: Major League Baseball has a policy that fans may bring in their own food and drink. My family used to take a picnic basket to Phillies games back in the late 1970s.
Most other leagues don’t allow in outside food.
Culture of Truth
What if Anonymous hacked a stadium jumbotron and… nah, it’s probably a bad idea.
JPL
My pup jumped on my lap, because he could tell how upset I was, after viewing that video. omg
Juju
@Ella in New Mexico: I’d be right there with you, with my rescue golden at my side, but I’m further away than you are. I don’t attend arena sporting events, so I know he has never seen a single penny of my money, and very likely never will.
Lee
First off I’m not I’m not watching the video.
Second if people stopped buying the overpriced food & drinks because of this, there will be many very wealthy people wanting this guy out of the picture since typically the establishment gets a cut of the money.
Lee
@Culture of Truth: A better group would be 4chan. They really hate the mistreatment of animals.
Commenting at Balloon Juice Since 1937
“MBA
British American College London”
He has upper class legacy written all over his inexperienced douche hat face. I hope he is accidentally ripped apart by a pack of wolves.
Jebediah, RBG
@Culture of Truth:
so I am not the only one that does that!
Aimai
@CONGRATULATIONS!: what the fucking fuck?
gsp
@Felinious Wench: however, if sports fan were to say we will not be coming to your stadium so long as you have this company providing the catering it probably wouldn’t be too long before he or the company are gone (well, I’d like to hope).
This happened in Vancouver, BC, Canada and the company runs the concessions at BC Place and my understanding some big ones in the States too (i.e. San Diego’s, etc). Vancouver is a animal loving city so won’t be long before the pup gets a great, loving home.
AnotherMildred
… And I feel bad because the over-80 degree heat makes it miserable for my (rescued) Newfy to have a lil’ walk…. Yeah, guys like that? deserve the worst that can be dished out, human or canine.
tulip
@SiubhanDuinne: According to the Deadspin article it looks like Centerplate removed the page listing all their venues. However here is a partial list again per their article:
Levi’s Stadium
Notre Dame
Tropicana Field
Qualcomm Stadium
Fedex Field
Colonial Life Arena At the University of South Carolina
KFC Yum! Center (University of Louisville)
Safeco Field
AT&T Park
The Superdome
Belmont Park
Sun Life Stadium
Durham Bulls
Patrick
@CONGRATULATIONS!:
Does anybody have any idea where the dog is now? Can he/she get adopted and have a decent life going forward. Crap like this makes me so angry. Why do people behave this way? Hell, a defenseless dog!
If Michael Vick had to go to jail, then so should this creep.
Trollhattan
@tulip:
“KFC Yum! Center”?!? That’s pathological.
chopper
i’m not watching that shit.
no fucking way.
Shakezula
@scav: Right? And why did he think it sounded better to say he was whaling away on a friend’s pet?
WaterGirl
@tulip: If they feel they need to be removing the list of their venues, I don’t think this CEO is going to have his current job for much longer.
elmo
Not watching the video, but having been in rescue for 25 years I’m not even a little bit surprised. It is horrifying, horrifying what people do to dogs. I picked up a little dog on the side of the road once, whose every bone showed – including the individual vertebrae of the tail – because of starvation. He had scars on muzzle, pasterns, and hocks, from duct tape. He was so terrified that I had to just grab him, because it was freezing out and I couldn’t risk him deciding to bolt. He savaged my hands before I could get him properly under control, but ten minutes later he was licking my face because he figured out that I wasn’t trying to hurt him.
I have lots of other stories. This is essentially why I live paycheck to paycheck despite a very nice salary – all my resources go to rescuing dogs.
chopper
seriously. i have a 1-year old dog who is totes still a puppy, chews and fucks up everything. i came back from a 5 minute trip this morning just dropping my daughter off at the bus stop for school and found the dog had busted out of her crate and in merely 5 minutes taken a huge dump on the rug and chewed up 100 dollars’ worth of blinds and the best i could do was raise my voice at her.
i understand the frustration that comes with owning a dog, but fuck that guy right in the fucking ear.
Patrick
@elmo:
Beautiful story. Is there an organization or organizations that you recommend over others?
chopper
@elmo:
my current dog is a rescue, and when i have to discipline her for any reason you can tell; she curls up on the ground, scared. my previous rescue dog had scars all up and down her front legs, likely from being left in a crate for days at a time. god knows what her owners had done to her, but all i know is that after she had a litter they took the puppies and left her in a crate outside. just up and left.
the crazy thing, as with my current dog, is that after all that shit the poor fucker had to deal with, they were ‘rescued’ in that they went to a shelter that was about to put them down before we took them in. some ‘rescue’.
pluege
I’ll tell you how, like so many privileged jackholes in America revered for their wealth (a.k.a. capitalist cunning), he is psychologically sick, demented, immature, violent, and indecent, and should be under professional psychological care.
WereBear
@chopper: This is why the Remake of Rescue, aka No Kill Shelters, is such a welcome innovation.
I got two dogs from North Shore Animal League on Long Island, who was one of the first, and does awesome work!
Juju
@elmo: I have experience in animal rescue as well, and I did watch the video. I have a bit of experience with overwhelmed, dog owners who just wanted the cute puppy, without realizing that puppies grow up. It didn’t appear to me that Hague was exasperated, frustrated, or that he lost his composure. He actually seemed rather calm to me in the video. The dog was cowering and was behaving. The claim that he was frustrated is a very poor excuse for his behavior, and I don’t buy it for a minute. I have a feeling that his family, if he has a family, also cowers in his presence.
I also wanted to say I love you for your dog rescue activities.
Jebediah, RBG
@pluege:
I usually avoid being a grammar/spelling pedant, but you clearly misspelled “should be shot into the sun.”
Shakezula
@chopper: This guy is an extreme example but I regularly come across people who’ve given away pets because they didn’t understand that pets are … animals and they have personalities and they see things differently than we do and have different drives and impluses when they’re babies they require oversight because they’re young and don’t know anything and like babies, mess things up.
So you have asshats who get a high energy dog and then bitch because surprise! The dog only gets one quick walk up and down the block a day and is a hyper mess as a result. Or they’re SHOCKED that kittens don’t always hit the litter box.
Betty Cracker
@Jebediah, RBG: LMAO!
Summer
@Jebediah, RBG: that was funny.
WereBear
@Jebediah, RBG: LOVE it.
Jebediah, RBG
@Betty Cracker:
@Summer:
@WereBear:
Thank you! And like, I suspect, a lot of people today, as soon as I get home from work I am going to hug the crap out of my pups…
Brutusettu
It’s completely out of character for him to kick a puppy while on camera.
Brutusettu
It’s completely out of character for him to kick a puppy while on camera.
SG
Here’s the email I sent to Centerplate:
To the Board and Stockholders of Centerplate:
I will not be spending any money with Centerplate, ever. I will be writing to the management of New York metro area venues to inform them that I won’t patronize their premises as long as they maintain contracts with your company. I will urge all my friends and family to do the same.
Why? Because your disgusting CEO deserves to be in prison for his criminal brutality toward animals. And your company deserves to lose business because you are employing the brute.
A decent company would fire him immediately for cause, with no compensation, pension or severance package. Every day you continue to keep him on your payroll, you demonstrate that you are not a decent company with respect for people or animals.
I don’t buy his sudden enlightenment and “reaching out” to the ASPCA. He’s a serial abuser, and I will not be surprised if it turns out that his abuse isn’t limited to helpless puppies. Ask him if he’s ever beaten his wife.
Keep the criminal brute and go down with him.
Paul in KY
@Trollhattan: You have to pronounce the ‘Yum!’ in an excited tone of voice. It’s in the contract…
Paul in KY
@elmo: You are truly a kind soul.