Video of dog being beaten in Riga sparks outrage; owner apologizes

A video circulating on social media shows a man on Klijānu Street in Riga choking a dog and forcing it to the ground by force. The disturbing scene reportedly took place in view of a small child sitting in a stroller nearby.

Following public outrage and calls to action after the footage spread, the State Police confirmed they have opened a departmental inquiry and identified the person involved. Further steps will depend on what the applicable regulations require.

Owner's explanation

The dog's owner, Toms Jansons, posted an explanation on Instagram. He said his 12-year-old hunting dog had escaped from home and followed his trail. When Jansons spotted the dog and called it, the animal ran off, ending up in the Great Cemetery (Lielie kapi), where he spent about 40 minutes trying to catch it. Once caught, he said, the dog was punished the way dog trainers reportedly taught long ago.

Jansons apologized to everyone offended or affected by the video, stressing that he has never promoted or encouraged violence against animals. He also asked people not to make threats against his life, health, or his family's safety.

Backlash online

The apology triggered a heated debate on Threads. Several commenters questioned the training method Jansons referenced. A representative of the animal welfare group 4paws.lv said that, as far as she knows, no dog trainers in Latvia teach such methods, and invited anyone aware of such a case to name the trainer specifically.

Other commenters raised concerns about the dog's safety going forward, and pointed out that a 12-year-old hunting dog is an elderly animal, arguing that physical punishment is not an acceptable way to assert authority over a pet.