#HUGOISFINE is the hashtag the City of Richmond has posted on Twitter.
They want to assure the public that a dog - that’s been the subject of a viral social media campaign with claims of neglect - is fine and well taken care of.
On top of the viral posts on social media – on reddit, Instagram and Facebook - posters were plastered in city centre about the dog living on No. 5 Road.
The poster, signed by “Citizens who care about animals,” claimed the dog was outside in a cage even in winter without food and water.
The poster called on people to contact the mayor’s office, including the phone number.
The mayor’s office received 50 phone calls Tuesday night alone with multiple “abusive, cursing, angry calls,” said city spokesperson Clay Adams.
“This has gone hysterically viral,” he said, adding he’s never seen such a public outcry over an animal since he started working at the city more than four years ago.
And people have been showing up at the property – whose exact address was on the poster – trying to help Hugo.
“This is a poster version of an online scam,” Adams said.
The RCMP has been contacted given the “mischief” caused by the viral social media campaign and the reaction it’s caused, Adams explained.
City bylaws and the SPCA have investigated the situation, and they were assured the dog is fine. In fact, the dog was slightly overweight, indicating it’s well fed.
The owner has been cooperative, Adams said, proactively showing officials medical records.
There has been a history of complaints about Hugo, Adams said, all of which were investigated and deemed “unfounded.”
The SPCA said it’s aware of this situation and “to date no distress has been found.”
Hugo is primarily an outdoor dog, and, at times, he's on a long leash in the yard, but his owner does let him inside as well.
City workers have been taking down the posters plastered around city centre as fast as they can, Adams said.
Anyone who has a concern about an animal should contact the SPCA at 604-709-4668, he added.
“If in doubt, call us before you put up posters,” Adams said.
