Two former University at Buffalo football players have been charged with a crime involving a miniature poodle.
ABC News reported that Blake Hiligh, 19, and Zachary Pilarcek, 20, were charged in Buffalo Thursday after a video on social media showed the pair allegedly beating a miniature poodle with a leather belt. The incident allegedly occurred at an apartment in Amherst, N.Y. on June 13.
According to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the dog was under the “care and custody” of the pair at the time of the incident.
The two men were charged with one count of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and one count of failure to provide proper sustenance. Both could face a maximum sentence of one year in jail if convicted.
The SPCA Serving Erie County initiated the police complaint after receiving reports of the video. The SPCA took control of the dog, a 4-year-old miniature Poodle named ‘Kobe.’ on June 14. According to ABC News, the poodle received treatment for bruises and abrasions, and the dog “remains under the care of the SPCA at an undisclosed location.”
Buffalo Bulls head coach Maurice Linguist told USA Today he dismissed both players from the team after learning of the incident.
“The UB football program has zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” Linguist said. “At UB, not only do we expect our student-athletes to excel on the field and in the classroom, but we also expect them to be outstanding citizens in our community.”
Hiligh, a cornerback, appeared in one game for Buffalo in 2022. Pilarcek, a tight end, didn’t play last year.
The two players were released on their own recognizance, with Pilarcek due in court July 27 and Hiligh on Aug. 3.
[ABC News]
