French animal-rights group Cause Animale Nord forcibly removed a dog from his homeless owner this month in Paris. Video footage of the event shows two activists violently take the pup while the weeping owner desperately tries to get his pet back. The video has since been viewed more then 3 million times, and has caused public outrage—so much so that a change.org petition calling for the dog to be given back has amassed over 230,000 signatures.
In the wake of criticism, Cause Animale Nord has claimed they intervened because the dog was being drugged and “used for begging,” The organization uploaded a video of the happy-looking pooch, whom they have named Vegan, and stated it is up for adoption.
Subsequently, the homeless man provided paperwork to prove he is the legal owner of the dog, to which Cause Animale Nord claims the document has been “tampered with.”