Warning: This article contains images and footage which some readers may find distressing
A Santa Monica-based CEO has apologised for his actions and stepped away from his job to undergo anger management training after being caught on CCTV beating his pet puppy Bici.
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Jeffrey Previte, 49, is the co-CEO of EBI Consulting alongside his brother Nolan, but hit the headlines recently when CCTV in the lift of the Seychelle Condominiums building where he lives in Santa Monica, California showed him acting violently towards his dog.
As the distressing video above shows, Previte hoisted Bici off the floor by the scruff of his neck and pulled him through the lift door, before giving him a hard smack.
Santa Monica police have said they are currently investigating it as a possible incident of animal abuse, and Previte has now issued his own apology to co-workers and friends.
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Previte wrote: "I want everyone to know that I truly regret my actions on August 22, 2020. Words can't fully describe how sorry I am for what happened.
"I lost my temper and took unreasonable and unjustifiable action in attempting to discipline my dog Bici. As I have said, words are not enough here, Bici is no longer living with me and is with another loving family. I have also stepped away from my job and am enrolling in anger management training."
Previte's apology comes as his brother Nolan has written his own message to EBI Consulting employees, which was obtained by the Daily Mail, defending his sibling and arguing it was simply 'zealous discipline of the dog for peeing the rug'.
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Nolan wrote: "Please trust me here, Jeff certainly regrets the zealous discipline of the dog for peeing the rug, but I assure you this is absolute nonsense.
"He's an extremely kindhearted, sensitive, caring and thoughtful person with zero cruel or abusive tendencies. He's truly the opposite of cruel or abusive.
"And he deeply cares for Bici, as anyone who's actually seen him with the dog would attest."
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Jeffrey initially said: "I think this is very unfortunate that this has come across your desk.
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"There's nothing illegal about what I did - I said if you need to tell the building, tell the building.
"The building manager took it very seriously. I find it very unfortunate that we are even talking about this."
A representative for Seychelle Building Management said: "The apparent conduct of the unit owner was abhorrent and completely unacceptable.
"Building management stands behind our employee and we took swift action including contacting animal control and directing the resident to cease all contact with our employee.
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"We continue to evaluate other measures that can be taken with our counsel."
Featured Image Credit: SWNS