An influencer who horrifically abused his pet dog has been jailed for two years.
Germain R, who is known as Rop online, was found guilty of “serious abuse” and “deprivation of care and food”.
The content creator, who kept an American Staffordshire Terrier named Texas, had his dog taken from him after a friend reported him to the police.
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His friend had become concerned for the animal’s well-being after going over to Rop’s house, which he shared with his girlfriend, Rocka.
Texas, who was four months old at the time, was tied underneath a staircase without a blanket or a bowl.
During the evening, the friend witnessed Rop, who has more than 2,900 followers on Facebook, beat Texas several times.
She claimed that his partner, Rocka, who has 113,000 followers on Instagram, did not react to the violent behaviour.
The friend of the couple filmed the dog, who appeared skinny, disfigured and injured, and notified police.
Authorities quickly intervened, and Texas was seized and handed over to an animal protection association, as reported by Need To Know.
After being examined by a vet, it was found that Texas had sustained fractures, edemas, scars and hematomas.
He also had wounds on his cheeks, which showed that the pup had been burned with cigarettes.
As a result of the abuse, Texas, who has since been renamed Hopie, was left with a deformed skull.
A complaint against Rop and Rocka was initially filed on 28 November 2022.
Rop was finally sentenced on 28 March in Versailles, France, where he is from.
His two-year sentence will see him serve one year behind bars and one year of arranged house arrest under electronic bracelet.
He has also been permanently banned from keeping animals.
Rocka was found guilty of deprivation of food and deprivation of care and was fined.
On 9 April, the 30 Million Friends Foundation, an animal welfare organisation, shared the details of Rop and Rocka’s verdict.
They also revealed that Hopie had since been placed with a foster family.
A spokesman said: “The dog was entrusted to an animal protection association and placed in a foster family.
“The 30 Million Friends Foundation was a civil party to the trials of each of the ‘influencers”.
Since being shared, the post has been liked more than 32,000 times.
More than 10,000 people left comments – outraged by the suffering that Hopie was subjected to.
Mary said: “What the courts don’t understand, in my opinion, is that people who abuse an animal are capable of doing the same to a child or any other vulnerable living being.
“The sanctions are absolutely not up to the actions of these drunkards.
“This is screaming injustice and shameful.”
Pascale added: “And people follow these people on social media.
“Punishment is not heavy enough.”
“I am really ashamed to belong to the human race. No punishment will be strong enough for this kind of ‘individual'”, said Angeline.
Isabelle said: “Cheap price for the horror this dog went through. Hopefully, Karma will do the rest.”
“And to say that this sad individual is an influencer and followed by lots of young people, very bad example,” added Maryse.
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