The Truth About Gerard Butler and Dogs

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 26th 2009 02:28PM

'The Ugly Truth' star Gerard Butler is barking mad over a scuffle he had with an elderly New York couple - or, more specifically, their dog. The New York Post reports that Butler was walking his tiny pug Lolita when a run-in with a large Greyhound went wrong. Butler claims that he exchanged words with the couple after their large pet bit Lolita twice. The couple, Fred and Maria Varecka of Queens, argue that Butler went ballistic for no apparent reason - they say the two dogs merely touched noses and no biting occurred.

Butler was walking his off-leash pooch when the incident began. According to the Vareckas, Butler "went on this rampage, shouting, 'That dog should be put down!'"

"I said, 'Your dog should be put on a leash.' He kept on going and going, ranting and raving. . . . He was being verbally abusive." Maria Varecka added, "He smacked the dog in the head. The dog's head went into the fence. I was shaking. The dog yelped. I said, 'Keep your hands off my dog! Why did you hit my dog?' He didn't say a word."

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Actress Jennifer Aniston seen on the Streets of Manhattan on August 24, 2009 in New York City. Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler on Location for "The Bounty" - August 24, 2009 Streets of Manhattan New York, NY United States August 24, 2009 Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com To license this image (58167355), contact WireImage.com

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Actor Gerard Butler and actress Jennifer Aniston seen on the Streets of Manhattan on August 24, 2009 in New York City. Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler on Location for "The Bounty" - August 24, 2009 Streets of Manhattan New York, NY United States August 24, 2009 Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage.com To license this image (58167361), contact WireImage.com

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©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler continue filming "The Bounty." In today's scene Butler appears to arrest Aniston's character and slap on some handcuffs. NON-EXCLUSIVE August 24, 2009 Job: 90824X5 New York, New York www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

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Dog-lover Butler sees the incident in a different light. His manager Alan Siegel described the conflict: "What happened was, Gerry was walking his dog, Lolita, who is this little, small pug, a teeny thing. You can hold her in one arm, she's that small. Then, suddenly, this greyhound, this huge, menacing dog, bites Lolita. She [Maria Varecka] and Gerry then have words. . . . [Then] the dog again goes over to Lolita and takes another bite."

TMZ reports that, after the second bite, Butler put his dog on a leash and began walking away, when the woman followed him. Butler intervened when the Greyhound attempted a third bite.

Siegel said Butler spent the next four hours at an Upper East Side veterinary hospital making sure that Lolita was no worse for wear. Reportedly, the pug is safe and healthy.

"People are so mean. They're just trying to milk this," Siegel concluded.

Tags: gerard butler, GerardButler

Comments

(112)

Wednesday 26 August

By jane

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Someone hits MY dog, likely something BAD is imminent for them regardless of who they are. Guess he isn't used to living here or something. We do have leash laws... And it's crowded on sidewalks and in parks sometimes. Need to keep an eye on your dog, ok? BUT hit as New Yorker's dog? Oh, this is NOT done, pal. And somehow I don't believe or find plausible the Publicist's Statement.

By Marci

Hmmm...used to think Butler was a good guy, but now it seems he's almost as much a douchebag as Russell Crowe. And Greyhounds are hardly vicious!

By Shawn

Two things Greyhounds ARE NOT are "huge" and "menacing". In fact, they always seem to be looking afraid of something.

That comment in and of itself puts in doubt the entire statement from the Gerard Butler side of the line. A shame. It is always disappointing when you find out these pampered stars (whose salaries Obama doesn't seem interested in. Well, just give him time) are spoiled twits.

Saturday 29 August

By ExperiencedGreyMom

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I haven't had to read far to know there are quite a few on here who don't know what they are talking about...and some of those claim to know and own Greyhounds! Yes, I currently own two, as well as two small dogs. One of my rescued grey's is a typical ex-racer, quiet, very obedient, behaves well on leash, with a standard prey drive. When we first got her, she chased one of the small dogs and nipped a hole in her back - even though she was 'small dog safe' according to the rescue organization. She has since learned that is not acceptable under our rules and training. Still, she is not allowed off leash with small dogs she doesn't know, even in our backyard, until we are fairly sure how she'll react. Our second rescue is a raised from puppy 'home' dog who has never raced, and is VERY aggressive (growling and menacing) toward other dogs outside the home, especially small dogs and animals, and is learning not to chase the small dogs at home. He is always supervised around them, and we do not bring other dogs into our home yet due to this.
Some of you seem to forget that Greyhounds are DOGS, and as such are not reasoning creatures like humans. They act and react due to instinct and no two are alike. Greyhounds can be quiet and docile, or nasty and aggressive. My experience is not unusual and I've heard similar stories from others. When in 'small prey' mode, they will fix their eyes and snout on the back of the animal, and try to nip and/or trip. I've seen it time after time after time with quite a few of these dogs.
Clearly it was an emotional incident and blaming either party is ridiculous because none of you were there. The couple should have held their dog until the small dog had passed, and Mr. Butler should have been adhering to the lease law. Everyone involved should be allowed to vent as long as they all learned something from the incident. Many people view their animals as children, and this is why emotions play such a factor, which is most likely true in this case. Don't blame Mr. Butler because he thought his dog was getting bit. How could that all of a sudden make him a bad person? And we don't know much about the couple with the Greyhound. Where they doing everything correctly? Somewhere along the way, common sense has to rule the day.

Thursday 27 August

By Jen

Greyhounds are hardly vicious. I think Gerard Butler is an idiot for letting his small dog off leash. I agree that if the greyhound really wanted to hurt his dog it would have. I've owned two greyhounds and work for a greyhound rescue in so cal... these dogs are sweet loving and gentle in nature. If i let my dog, small or large, run off leash and it got attacked by any breed of dog i would assume responsibilty right away for having my dog off leash. I also think that he should have never hit the dog if the dog wasnt actively being attacked....some people just shouldnt own dogs!

By H

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Listen up you piece of two bit flash in the pan s-h-i-t actor. We have laws here in America and one of them is that you have your own dog on a leash, period, you moron of a man. If you do not like that law, take your conceited ass back where it belongs in La La land. And god knows no one saw you carry a pooper scouper to clean up after your dog regardless of what size dump it leaves on our city streets. Get off your high horse, you two-bit actor and clean up your own crap your dog leaves on the public streets of New York. Yeah, that's right the streets of New York belong to the public and not you alone to do with what you like just because you can read a "line."

By jasmine

You have serious anger issues. What the hell is your problem? You are perfect, you never make mistakes. Remember, when you point a finger at someone, three other fingers are pointing right back at you.... don't forget that!!!!!!!!!

By janiceconner

Jealousy is unattractive. Whether or not you appreciate Mr. Butler's work, he has made a number of fine films and has worked hard. I do agree about the pooper scooper. Much of Europe is covered in dog poop. It is not great. Better to follow the laws where you are living than annoy others.

Monday 21 September

By Lilly

THE PUG WAS OFF LEASH AND THAT IS A NO-NO IN MANY STATES. I'M SORRY THE LITTLE DOG WAS BITTEN, BUT I HOPE GEARLD LEARNED A LESSON AND QUITS THE CRAP.
IF WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE WOMAN FOLLOWING HIM WITH THE BIG GREYHOUND, I HOPE HE HAS A WITNESS..I FEEL BAD FOR THE PUG, BUT I ALSO FEEL BAD FOR THE GREYHOUND. SOUNDS LIKE MS PUGGY GOT A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE PERHAPS!

By kerri

Seriously, Jen? You blame the pug because it wasn't leashed?
I could see that being a factor in this fracas if the unleashed pug had run up to the greyhound. But both sides say the leashed dog lunged at the pug who was lounging outside a movie trailer. How does that happen? I'll tell you how. The dolt holding on to the other end of the greyhound's leash walked their dog up to the pug. Just because your dog is on a leash doesn't mean you aren't responsible for it's behavior. It your dog is aggressive towards small dogs, you don't let it walk up to one. Having a leash on your dog but not bothering to use the leash to control it, is no better than having no leash at all. In my mind it's worse. This woman should have done a better job controlling her dog. The leash isn't just there to keep the dog from running off, but to keep it from causing mayhem. Who caused the problem? The snoozing pug who was minding her own business, or the vicious greyhound with the clueless owner? If your dog is aggressive to small kids do you let it walk up to a child, close enough to lunge, because hey, she's on a leash?

By ed

greyhounds are so puntable. put your pug on a leash, idiot. it is new york city. but that greyhound would soooo be flying through the uprights.

By TartanLass7

Listen-Yes I will agree that Gerry should've had his dog on leash,but...that aside....every Greyhound is different-let alone who knows what type of mood the dog was in that day. It may had gotten over excited & nipped at Lolita,and the dog prob yelped-which got Gerry upset-anyone would have. I've been a long time fan/admirer of GB's & he's always been nothing but a kind person,we're all human & he felt he was trying to protect his dog being she's small. He had the right to be upset. I've had other dogs,when I had my small RT at times try to mess w/her,take nips no matter what the breed,and yea I got tic'd,but I always pulled her away & walked off from the situation,and the person apologized. When a dog nips another it doesn't always leave a mark either,doesn't mean it didn't happen. The people w/the greyhound should've pulled their dog away & apologized while doing so,and that would've been the end of it. I've seen many a person while walking their dog(s)not pay much attention to what their dog was doing when near other dogs. Gerard would'nt ever harm another dog unless he felt his dog was being hurt in some way. It was an unfortunate incident,which I hope both parties have learned from.

(Btw-GB is a very good actor,just because 'you' don't happen to like him doesn't make it not so.)

By nick

It is ALWAYS the job of the owner to control their animal. Butlers dog being offleash is COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE, he is entirely at fault. how can the owners of other leashed dogs keep their animals away from one that can go wherever it wants. If Butlers dog went up to the greyhounds it is not THEIR fault! They are DOGS and their owners cannot be expected to walk across the street to avoid an illegally off leash animal.

By Lorry

Ok people, we can bicker about this all day long but the facts are: Lolita should have been on a leash, it doesn't matter which dog was at fault, dogs will be dogs and sh*! happens. If in fact the owners of the greyhound were not acting as responsible dog owners Gerard should have punched them out. He was totally out of line punching the dog.

By jessie

Im sure GB was exagerating, his dog was off the leash he was wrong. If his dog in fact was bitten 2x why are they not showing that? His manager also managed to say that while at the vet nursing his dog GB is so kind that he paid 3K for someone else's pet, who cares and if he did why announce it, seems like a PR scheme to keep him from being the next Russell Crowe

By NICK

Butler deserves whatever happens to his cute little pug if it is off leash. If he cared so much about his precious little doggie poo he'd make sure HE was watching out for other animals, and keep the leash tight when encountering strangers.

Friday 28 August

By Dorothy

One of the reasons you leash your dog is TO KEEP IT FROM APPROACHING ANOTHER DOG so that it doesn't get hurt!!! Come on G Butler, are you really this stupid? Everyone else has to leash their dogs, but you don't???

By Wendy

Anyone can google greyhound training and find out that whether illegal or not live prey is used to train greyhounds. It's also illegal to kill greyhounds but the subhumans who race them do that too.
Per the Humane Society of the U.S.:
Are any other animals abused by the greyhound racing industry?

Greyhound training activities have been known to maim and kill thousands of domestic rabbits and wild jackrabbits every year. (This estimate is based on HSUS investigations into the illegal importation of rabbits as well as the use of animals in training events.) One particular event known as "coursing" involves greyhounds chasing, terrorizing and eventually killing rabbits within fenced enclosures. Some industry representatives argue that this activity enhances the dogs' racing ability because they'll develop a "taste for blood." But greyhounds are sight, not blood, hounds, and their inclination to run is instigated by a moving object, not the scent of blood. The use of live lures is not permitted in at least 16 states, but such laws are difficult to enforce.

By barb

I own, and have fostered, greyhounds. There is no do more loving and kind, than a greyhound. I have 3 cats and even though my cats walk all over my greyhound, she has never, ever lifted a paw, bared her teeth or even growled at them. Greyhounds have an extremely even temperment and I find it highly unlikely that the greyhound in question tried to bite Mr. Butlet's pug. Arizona, as in New York, also has a leash law and if Mr. Butler truly cared about his own dog, he would not take him out for a "walk" without a leash. Mr. Butler is very lucky it was a greyhound his pug met and not a car in the middle of the street!! My Stepmom has two small dogs and they are the most vicious, noisy, nastiest dogs. Give me a greyhound, a pitbull, a dobie, etc., any day rather than a nasty,yapping, little ankle biter!!

Sunday 30 August

By Connor

You are simply lucky. And don't count on that dog not to bite.

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