Controversial YouTuber Brooke Houts Is Being Investigated By LAPD For Animal Cruelty

By Cara Croke | August 8, 2019

A YouTuber who accidentally uploaded a video showing her hitting and appearing to spit on her dog is being investigated for animal cruelty after her video went viral for all the wrong reasons. Brooke Houts, who has more than 330,000 subscribers, uploaded a video to her channel earlier this week where she attempted to “prank” her dog. Brooke accidentally uploaded the unedited footage to her channel that showed her pushing and slapping her Doberman puppy before it was quickly deleted.

The viral clip has been shared all over the internet with users expressing their disgust at how Brooke treated her dog — criticisms range from “bad dog parenting” to “animal abuse” and even “animal cruelty.” Other YouTubers and celebrities have spoken out against Brooke, tweeting about their concerns for the animal.

i try my best to avoid slamming people on twitter because i know what it’s like to be on the receiving end (and rightfully so), but this video of that girl hitting & spitting on her dog is remarkably grotesque, and irks me for many reasons:

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) August 7, 2019

Put this cretin in jail. https://t.co/W16cQToLF9

— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) August 7, 2019

What’s with many you tubers abusing animals lately?!! If you don’t know how to care for an animal, then don’t take in one- it’s that simple. I don’t care what your excuses are- Abuse is Abuse.

— Mᴀʀʟᴇɴᴀ Sᴛᴇʟʟ (@MarlenaStell) August 7, 2019

Brooke released a statement in which she apologized to viewers who were affected by her video and also blamed her actions on having a bad week. She said that things in her life have been “less than exceptional” but defended her decision to “discipline” her dog, writing: “when he is jumping up in my face with his mouth open, I, as a dog parent, have to show him that this behavior is unacceptable.” Regardless of her actions towards the pup, Brooke said she wants to make it known that she “should not have acted that way towards him” and ensured her followers that she is a “great dog mom,” no matter how it looks.

To everyone who has been commenting on my social media as of recently: pic.twitter.com/gnxUbfVHdf

— b (@brookehouts) August 7, 2019

Viewers who were horrified by the video reported the events to the Los Angeles Police Department, who have said that they are looking into the situation. The LAPD told The Verge: “Our Animal Cruelty Task Force has received numerous complaints about the video you’re speaking of and we are currently looking into the matter.”

PETA has also spoken out against Brooke, encouraging YouTube to remove her channel. NGL, if they didn’t remove Logan Paul after his controversy, they probably won’t remove Brooke Houts from the platform, either.

DOGS DESERVE RESPECT. IF YOU CAN'T TREAT DOGS WITH KINDNESS AND INSTEAD HIT THEM, DON'T GET ONE.

ATTN @YouTube: Please remove Brooke Houts from your platform.https://t.co/CASgyiXlE2

— PETA (@peta) August 7, 2019

Twitter users have compared Brooke to Twitch streamer Natalia “Alinity” Mogollon, who threw her cat over her shoulder during a Twitch stream in July.