LAPD Won’t File Charges Against Brooke Houts, The YouTuber Who Hit Her Dog In A Vlog

Brooke Houts, the YouTuber who accidentally uploaded a vlog in which she appeared to hit and spit on her pet Doberman, will not face charges of animal abuse. Houts will also presumably be allowed to retain ownership of the dog, Sphinx.

The Los Angeles Police Department told BuzzFeed that it had closed its case against Houts after determining that a crime hadn’t been committed. “Animal Task Force looked into the matter — obviously they saw the video the public had seen. They determined it didn’t rise to the level of animal cruelty,” police told the outlet.

Houts initially uploaded the video in question, titled Plastic Wrap Prank On My Doberman, in early August — and she appeared to have forgotten to edit out footage of the alleged abuse incident. Following outcry on social media, the LAPD’s Animal Cruelty Task Force opened an investigation. Houts denied the allegations of abuse in a lengthy Twitter

post at the time, attributing her behavior to the fact that “things in my outside life have been less than exceptional.” She said that her behavior was inappropriate, but affirmed, “I am not a dog abuser or animal abuser in any way, shape, or form.”

It had previously been reported that Houts — who creates vlogs about her life for 325,00 subscribers — would be allowed to keep Sphinx while the investigation was under way, as he was not in immediate danger. Houts has not issued any statements beyond her initial apology last month.