YouTube dog clip sparks outrage
Cruelty alleged at Allston store
Security-camera footage that shows a man kicking and jumping on a puppy's crate near the register of what appears to be a popular Allston liquor store has quickly attracted thousands of Internet hits and caused customers to threaten a boycott.
The incident has also prompted the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to investigate for a possible felony charge of animal cruelty.
The one-minute clip, posted to YouTube Thursday, carries a Feb. 6 recording stamp. It shows a middle-age man stride past the register of a liquor store, kick a crate containing a small dog, then jump on the crate, partially crushing it, before striding away.
A person in a baseball cap rushes over to comfort the puppy, apparently a beagle, before a younger man walks into the frame, grabs a leash from the counter, and takes the dog away.
The YouTube clip had been viewed nearly 20,000 times by yesterday afternoon. It had also been cited on websites and Facebook pages and prompted scores of outraged posts, many calling for a boycott of Blanchard's Liquors, at the intersection of Harvard and Brighton avenues.
"It's a horrible thing," said Christine Moore, a 25-year-old former Allston resident and Blanchard's customer who called for a boycott on Craigslist and her Facebook page.
Moore, a self-described vegan, said her friends sometimes tune out her messages about animal welfare, but this struck a nerve with others and spread quickly. "People who might not otherwise care about an animal rights issue seem to be pretty vocal about this," said Moore, a musician and retail worker from Somerville.
A YouTube member named "ericword" posted the original clip. Reached through YouTube e-mail, ericword identified himself in a phone interview as a 20-year-old Blanchard's worker.
Giving his name only as Eric, he said he was suspended from his job for posting the clip.
"I did not know this was going to blow up this fast," Eric said.
A Blanchard's manager declined to comment on any aspects of the matter yesterday. An attempt to reach Blanchard's owner, John D. Corey Jr., at his Milton home was unsuccessful.
Word of the episode spread quickly, especially among the students and 20-somethings in the Allston-Brighton area who patronize the liquor store.
The MSPCA's law enforcement division, which has police power to bring felony charges, is investigating the matter, said Brian Adams, a spokesman.
"To the best of our knowledge, the dog in the video is OK,," said Adams, encouraging those with information about the case to call the MSPCA at 800-628-5808.
Citing the investigation, Adams declined to identify the man in the video.
The MSPCA investigates about 3,000 reports of cruelty a year. Conviction carries a fine of up to $2,500, a prison term of up to five years, or both, Adams said.
Globe correspondent Jenara Gardner contributed to this report. 
