Fire Centerplate CEO for animal abuse

[ellenater]

Safeco’s concession supplier, Centerplate, has a CEO who is an animal abuser. There is video surveillance of him abusing a dog and it’s horrible–so consider yourself warned. Centerplate is refusing to let him go and none of their contracts, including with Safeco, have been terminated.

Also, the CEO, Hague, initially lied and said it was his friend’s dog, when he is in fact the owner. Many sources are still reporting it as his friend’s dog.

Here is a link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTMnKDVy7CQ

Here is a link to the petition:

http://www.change.org/p/centerplate-fire-ceo-des-hague-for-animal-cruelty?share_id=RirtgcyBOF&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

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[anonyme]

I feel sick after watching that. This piece of human excrement not only needs to be fired, he needs to be in prison. I’d love it if a couple of those biker animal rescue guys got widdle Desmond in an elevator – without a camera.

He even had the balls (tiny though they may be) to lie about being the dog’s owner. It makes no difference who “owns” the dog. Cruelty is cruelty, and this crime cannot go unpunished. A ‘donation’ and community service just doesn’t cut it.

Is there a petition asking Safeco to cancel Centerplate’s services? His own company is not concerned about having a psychopath for a CEO (not many are) but maybe Safeco would bow to some pressure…

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[ellenater]

Agreed. 100%! But I thought it was interesting that he lied about it. He clearly thought that would somehow lessen the crime. Sick!

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[anonyme]

The most important question is whether or not this poor dog was removed from this scumbag’s custody? He should be banned from owning a pet.

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[miws]

I haven’t had the heart to watch the video.

I’m not a sports fan, and have never been to the Mariners’ Ballpark, but urge the fans that DO go, to boycott Centerplate, until this dude is ousted. Although, I have a hunch if that did happen, he’d probably still end up with a handsome severance package.

FWIW, though, I saw on Tee Vee News that he was ordered by his company(?) to pay something like $100,000.00 to an abused animal org, and ordered to do something like 1,000 hours of community service.

Thanks for the petition link, ellenater.

Mike

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[ellenater]

Anonyme: Last I heard the pup was in foster care. Hoping she gets a chance at a beautiful new life.

Thanks, misws! I did see that too. It’s not enough, in this case–thus the petition. Apparently Vancouverites are boycotting their events.

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[anonyme]

Thanks ellenator, it’s a relief to hear this sweet pup will get a new life where she gets the love she deserves.

And good for our Canadian neighbors for boycotting. Hopefully that will catch on here.

I wonder if it’s illegal to send big boxes of steaming dog crap through the mail…?

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[kayo]

The video is sickening. I am so glad this jerk is getting a thorough public shaming for his despicable behavior. This hits especially close to home for us right now as we just adopted a very sweet rescue dog and it is pretty clear based on how he cowers and startles in response to even a slightly raised voice (especially male) that someone likely abused him in a former life. We are giving him as much love and gentle positive training as we can to help him overcome the psychological damage done by some jerk in his previous life but it just kills us to know that someone would treat him so badly. He is a wonderful dog – no dog deserves to be treated like this. Sadly, the dog in this video and our dog are just the tip of the iceberg for this sort of abuse. It is heartbreaking and maddening.

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[seaopgal]

I also can’t — or rather, won’t — watch the video, but have signed the petition. Personally, I would fire him just for being so stupid as to think that “it wasn’t my dog” was somehow relevant.

Thanks for “rescuing,” kayo!

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[JoB]

it’s a pity that behavior like this isn’t more often publicly shamed

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[ellenater]

JoB, I am heartened by the public response! It’s unanimous and people are seriously outraged.

Yeah,Thanks for rescuing, kayo! There is something so beautiful about giving them a second chance and watching them learn to trust again. <3

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[rw]

I think the company’s response, namely that this guy has agreed to take anger management classes, is a bunch of PR crap. My suspicion is that someone who abuses animals is also likely to abuse other people, namely anyone who is comparatively powerless against the abuser, such as subordinates in their company. He may have an ownership stake in the company, which may make it hard to get rid of the guy. So all efforts the public/customers can use to oust this guy are critical.

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[Smitty]

Man, I was all ready to respond with “get a life”, but that breaks my heart.

I don’t care what the dog did prior to entering the elevator, there is NO justification for that kind of abuse. Ever.

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[Duskyviolet]

Ellenater, thank you for posting this. I refused to watch the video last night but I did search out news articles which were few and far between. I was initially encouraged by Centerplate’s response but I watched the video this morning and am now disgusted that this guy who I bet makes in the millions will get off with a slap on the wrist. I have a Doberman and to see the body language of this small female Dobie trapped in the elevator with this douche bag is heart breaking.

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[miws]

Spot on, on your entire comment, rw.

Mike

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[guidosmom]

Wow! This is unbelievable! I will never purchase any item from this company as long as he remains CEO. WOW! What a scumbag!

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[GoGo]

I too can’t watch the video, I fear my head would explode. I did sign the petition and will not/would not have anything to do with this company unless they fire that idiot.

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[ellenater]

Thanks for signing! Yeah, I don’t usually go all viral with these sorts of stories but after watching the video, I couldn’t sit still.

I agree rw. Centerplate has a FB page too where some employees are posting comments. They are sickened also. Centerplate is apparently making statements about what a shame it would be if the employees lost their jobs. I find it interesting that their leadership is not responding in an appropriate way–shows what their values are. The employees are also not happy with the way they are treated, as a general rule: fired readily, etc.

I hope that Safeco changes their mind. :(

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[ellenater]

Update: Centerplate has just frozen the comments on their FB page. I imagine they will be taking down the comments shortly as they are all unfavorable and there are nearly 2k of them. Several people are also writing to Safeco and are posting on Safeco’s FB page. Centerplate’s moves have all been cowardly and dismissive. The petition has doubled since last night!

Thanks everybody for signing and taking the time to put some action into this! If you know somebody who might care about this issue, please forward the petition to them. It would be nice to raise even more awareness. Even if they don’t fire him, people deserve the right to boycott their concessions.

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[marianne]

Saw the video, signed the petition. Makes me wonder what other heinous acts he’s committed on animals when there were no cameras running. Not a baseball fan, never been to Safeco but would encourage all who go to boycott the concessions.

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[ellenater]

Yep. SI covered that well in this article. And finally, a mainstream news source got the facts right that he actually initially lied about whose dog it is.

http://www.si.com/more-sports/2014/08/28/des-hague-dog-abuse-centerplate-scandal-levis-stadium

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