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You are here: Home / Blog / ACTION TAKEN AGAINST MARINE WHO THREW PUPPY OFF A CLIFF

ACTION TAKEN AGAINST MARINE WHO THREW PUPPY OFF A CLIFF

June 12, 2008 by Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein

I don’t know if you had heard about the story about the two marines who were involved with throwing a puppy off a cliff earlier in the year. One marine videotaped the horrific incident while the other did the dirty deed. The video was posted on youtube for the world to see. It was seen by tens of thousands of people before youtube removed it because of the site’s terms of use.
The authenticity of it had been in question. I had received numerous emails with the video. I could never bring myself to watch it ~ not ever! The video was proven to be authentic and the anger has built up inside me again knowing that a human being could do this to a poor, defenseless animal.
The Associated Press has announced that the Marine Corps said Wednesday it was expelling one Marine, Lance. Cpl. Motari and disciplining another for their roles in this deplorable case of animal cruelty.
In this video according to those who watched it shows these two marines joking before Motari hurls it over the cliff. The puppy can be heard yelping the entire way down until it hits the rock gully. The off camerman Marine is heard saying that’s mean but then snickered.
Motari has received unspecified “non-judicial” punishment as well. The other marine has also received “non-judicial” punishment as well.
I would like to know what this “non-judicial” punishment means and is it enough. I know there are those are out there who would say that we are losing humans in this war. And yes they are correct. But does this justify doing this to this poor puppy? Do you think the punishment was fair or enough?
I have read some very heart-warming stories about soldiers who have taken care of homeless dogs in Iraq. Some have gone through so much red tape and were able to bring them home. One story that touched my heart was of a soldier who worked very hard to bring home a dog that he took care of while in Iraq. Sadly and unfortunately, he was killled before that could happen. The family of this man desperately wanted to fulfill their son’s wish and have that dog be a part of their family. Numerous people worked hard and made the impossible happen and the dog is now living with his parents. There are people who care about the animals.
But then there are those who could care less and throw a living breathing animal off a cliff? How could any decent human being do this? What do you feel about it? Does the punishment fit the crime?

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