If someone asked you this week if you heard the one about the Marine, a cliff in Iraq and a puppy, rest assured that it wasn't a joke.

A video popped up on YouTube last week of two United States Marines, one holding a puppy that he then appears to wind up and hurl over the side of a cliff, laughing, while the camera rolls.

YouTube has officially taken it down, although other copies are popping up. The UK Daily Telegraph embedded the clip in their news article about the incident. The video is graphic and may be difficult viewing.

Please note that because neither major news outlets nor the military have officially identified the man, I will not be reprinting his name here and ask that any commenters also refrain from doing so due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

Thanks to Antonette at Unrestricted: My NASCAR Rants and Raves and Leslie Carbone for links to the Marine Corp's response.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii continues to investigate a video of a Marine mistreating a puppy that gained widespread attention on the internet Monday. The content of the video is deplorable and contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine at home and abroad.

MCBH learned of the video Monday morning and immediately began an investigation to confirm the authenticity of the video and the persons responsible for the video. The investigation will be thorough and will examine each person involved. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be reviewed by each Marine's commander who will determine the appropriate action to take in each case.

No charges have been filed at this time. In the event that any Marine is charged with an offense, he will be afforded the constitutional and due process protections guaranteed by the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The vast majority of Marines conduct their duties in an honorable and compassionate manner that brings great credit upon the Marine Corps and the United States. There have been numerous stories of Marines adopting pets and bringing them home from Iraq or helping to arrange life-saving medical care for Iraqi children. Those are the stories that exemplify what we stand for and how most Marines behave.

If you have a comment regarding this incident we encourage you to visit our Web site and leave a comment or concern at www.mcbh.usmc.mil and click on the mcbh.pao.fct@nmci.usmc.mil e-mail link. Incoming statements and comments will be compiled in a database for use in this situation.

The Humane Society wrote a letter to Sec. of Defense Robert Gates to request that the Marine be punished.

“A videotape widely circulated on the Internet during the last several days depicts a man, who appears to be a U.S. Marine, tossing a yelping puppy over a precipice. We understand that the Marine in the videotape is identifiable, and we therefore expect the Department of Defense to investigate and to take swift and appropriate disciplinary action...Such instances of cruelty are objectionable in their own right, but take on special urgency as we welcome American military personnel home from the war zone,” Pacelle wrote. “While only a few incidents of this kind have come to light, we worry about the psychological stability of those who could perpetrate such vicious acts against the most vulnerable of creatures.

PETA was on the scene as well, with a response and a petition.

While we thank the Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) for launching a full investigation into this apparent act of extreme animal abuse, we want to make sure that the punishment reflects the serious nature of this violent act. The MCBH should require that the suspects appear before a court-martial and should seek the most severe penalties under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, including discharge from the Corps, for the suspects if they are convicted. The U.S. Marine Corps should also establish a zero-tolerance policy for cruelty to animals, which would help ensure that this is the last time that the U.S. will suspect any of its brave men and women of abusing a defenseless animal during their service to America.

Leslie Carbone writes about the rumors that the puppy wasn't real:

But questions about the video have arisen, in part because the dog doesn't move or make any noise while being held by the scruff of the neck and because yelps heard as it appears that the dog is going over a cliff sound possibly dubbed.

These questions haven't stopped death threats against the man believed to be the puppy-throwing Marine. Even his family has faced harassment after their address and phone number were published yesterday.

Come on. Yes, the video is disturbing. And whether it's really a doggy snuff film or just a puerile, tasteless hoax, those involved should be disciplined. But death threats are obviously extreme, and harassing the guy's family inappropriate as well.

Let's remember the American ideals that our armed services fight to protect, like the presumption of innocence, the right to trial, and the Rule of Law.

Nessalu vlogged her response, twice, after what she said were negative reactions to her first video response. Another YouTuber, Galaxy Dreams, has recorded a few responses as well, one of the most recent saying that just because she cares about a puppy doesn't mean she lacks concern for other issues. This last point is to many comments on the Web that claim - often in angry and ugly language - that more attention is being paid to a single dog than the many humans who die in combat, or at least put their lives on the line.

Rescue Dog Central says don't think all animal welfare supporters are "wackos."

This is just a reminder to everyone, who is completely outraged over the cruelty incident involving two Marines and a puppy, to keep this situation in perspective. This incident involves two marines, not the entire Marine Corps. Like any other organization that involves and includes human beings, you will witness people conducting themselves in ways that will inspire you and you will witness people doing things that will completely turn your stomach in disgust. Most Marines would not do what these two Marines did, therefore, let us not condemn an entire group of Marines because of the utter disgraceful and completely cruel behavior of two men.

Why do we bring this point up? Why would we defend the Marine Corps in the face of an incident that involves two of its men conducting a horrible act of animal cruelty? We bring this point up because we expect people who care for animals to fairly treat others, as we wish them to treat us, by not unfairly condemning and labeling an entire group of people as being cruel based on one act committed by two men.

CitizenSugar mentions the death threats the Marine has allegedly received and hosts a poll about the video.

If you haven't seen it already, you may not want to. I'm talking about the video of a US Marine apparently hurling a small, whimpering puppy off the side of a cliff. I just happened to witness this while watching my morning news.

Marine officials are calling the video, which has been taken off YouTube, "shocking and deplorable" and an investigation has been launched. Meanwhile, the alleged puppy thrower and his family have been receiving death threats. Comments on YouTube identified the man, in what is being called "cyber-vigilantism."

What do you think about the video?

The accused Marine has also been said to have shut down his MySpace and a Beebo profile as well in response to angry comments, blog and profile posts and threats.

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Also this week, BlogHer's Pet(s) of the Week feature debuts. Enter a link to a photo (in a blog post or photostream) of your own or someone else's fabulous pet in Mr. Linky below.

Rascal, a Westie who belongs to BlogHer Political Director Morra Aarons, enthusiastically nominated himself for the first Featured Pet. Morra's been working extra hard to bring us the best of this roller coaster primary season, so it only seems right that Rascal be appointed "First Dog" of BlogHer for the week. He gets half of my one measly electoral vote, anyway.

Morra wants everyone to know that there are not possibly enough photographs of Rascal, who she shares with her husband (and avid pet photographer) Nicco. Morra said:

Is this NOT a pet of the week?

Agreed.

Photo courtesty of Nicco Mele, and made available by Creative Commons from his Flickr photostream

Totally pet-of-the-week material, Morra. The month, even.

Check Nicco's photostream for many, many more - including today's "Sunday morning in bed with Rascal."

Food Contributing Editor Alanna Kellogg shared what she says is a rare photo of her dog Lady on her blog, KitchenParade. It's an excellent shot, and reflects all that blogging and Twittering and Status-Messaging (are we over-stimulated or what?) about "When will this winter ever END? Thanks, Alanna! Lady gets the other half of my (remarkably bipartisan) vote.

Photo courtesy of Alanna Kellogg at FoodParade.com.

Finally, a Cute Overload Bonus, because it's Sunday and I can:

Regular Dooce readers might be familiar with her regular "stuff on Chuck" photographs, wherein her most excellent and ever-photogenic dog withstands being decorated with all manner of items both edible and not. She was inspired to take the last one after seeing these cutie Collies(?) and "Oh this is really going too far" on Cute Overload.

Until next time, may all pets be happy, healthy and - of course - cute.

Pets and Family Contributing Editor Laurie White blogs at LaurieWrites, and pathetically begs you to put links to fantastic pets below.