Two students at the State University of New York at Brockport have been arrested for allegedly torturing and injuring an animal after their picture of a dog doing a keg stand went viral.
The picture appeared to show the students holding a dog upside down over a keg and forcing her to drink from the tap. It was first posted on a Twitter account called SUNY Party Stories, although it has now been removed.
Other Twitter accounts have since uploaded the offensive image:
Photo of dog doing keg stand at SUNY Brockport party leads to arrest http://t.co/gh9nyKNClnpic.twitter.com/jlGfk8gdOe
— Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) March 10, 2014However, there has also been some more heartening news. The dog, Maya, is reportedly healthy and has been taken in by local authorities:
Animal Control in Brockport says Maya doing well, photo shows dog held up to drink from keg http://t.co/irM5ydBXF5pic.twitter.com/nu2TTOTDxE
— TWC News Rochester (@TWCNewsROC) March 10, 2014According to Rochester-area newspaper The Democrat and Chronicle, "Speculation that the people responsible for the photo were Brockport students began immediately because the person in the photo was wearing a college t-shirt." Students Shane Oliver and Robert Yates were arrested in connection with the photo.
Yates — who appeared to hold Maya over the keg in the photo — has been charged with a misdemeanor under Agriculture and Marketing Law for torturing/injuring an animal, according to The Democrat and Chronicle. Oliver allegedly took the picture.
In a SUNY Brockport statement, the school expressed their shock at the photo, saying, "We were alarmed to learn of this disturbing photo. The College is investigating this matter and will take appropriate action once the details surrounding the photo are learned."