Gosselins Accused Of Animal Abuse

Already in the national spotlight for his troubled marriage, Jon Gosselin is facing yet another controversy: allegations of animal abuse.

The Jon & Kate Plus 8 star told PEOPLE recently that his German Shepherd pups, Shoka and Nala, are often mishandled by his young children. "Those kids beat them up, climb on them, pull their tails, bite at them, drag them around and everything you can imagine not to do to an animal, they've done," he said. (It sounds like a dad exaggerating how rough the kids are with the dogs.)

It wasn't long before the Humane Society of Berks County, Pa., where the Gosselins live, received about a dozen complaints from animal activists around the country, prompting Gosselin to release a statement Friday to the organization about the care of his animals. (I think that some people have a little too much free time on their hands. And Jon and Kate are going to protect the dogs, they are an essential part of their happy family image. They look so cute taking part in those oh so fake family moments.)

"I'd like to set the record straight," he said. "We understand the responsibilities of being good dog owners. Whenever my kids are with Shoka and Nala, everyone is carefully supervised to ensure that no one – dog or child – is injured. Shoka and Nala are loyal companions who we consider members of our family. We would never do anything to hurt them, and treat them with the respect and love that they deserve."

Karel I. Minor, executive director of the Humane Society of Berks County, confirmed to the local Reading Eagle newspaper that Shoka and Nala are up-to-date on their vaccinations and registered in the Gosselins' township. "We have no credible reason to believe in way that there is cruelty going on," he shared, adding that representatives from the Humane Society did not conduct a visit to the family’s home.

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