Ontario SCPA investigating after video of dog walker surfaces on Instagram

The OSPCA is investigating after a video surfaced on Instagram showing a dog walker who appears to be forcing a leashed dog to walk on its hind legs while multiple other unleashed dogs walk beside him.

Aleksander Kupisz, who shot the video and posted it to the social media site, said the incident occurred on the afternoon of March 16 near Christie Pits Park.

Kupisz said when he first saw the dog being held up by his collar, he didn’t really know what was happening.

"I became very disturbed by this and I took out my phone. I started to record. The individual then crossed the street, continued to have the dog up on its hind legs, dragging it basically... I became quite concerned and I confronted the individual," Kupisz said.

"There is no need to use that type of a force... This is not a training technique, this is blatant abuse."

In an interview with NewsTalk 1010, the dog walker in the video admitted that the dog was walking on its hind legs for about half a block but defended his actions, saying there are “varying techniques on how to walk a dog properly.”

“The dog was by no means being dragged,” he told the radio station.

In an email sent to CP24 Tuesday, Melissa Kosowan, a spokesperson for the OSCPA, confirmed the organization is investigating the incident.

"The Ontario SPCA is currently investigating and is following up accordingly on the information we have received. We urge anyone who witnessed this incident to call 310-SPCA," she wrote.

"While the video is of poor quality, anyone using training techniques that are likely to cause unnecessary or undue hardship, which falls within the definition of distress under the law, could face possible charges under the Ontario SPCA Act.  In addition to enforcing animal cruelty laws, the Ontario SPCA also works to educate pet owners wherever possible. We want to make people aware of positive reinforcement techniques and caution them about possible consequences of poor training methods."