Former University of Buffalo football players Blake Hiligh and Zachary Pilarcek have been charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after they were seen on video allegedly beating a dog with a belt.
In a press release from Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, Hiligh and Pilarcek were formally charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance.
The dog, a four-year-old miniature poodle named Kobe, was transported to the SPCA and remains under their care. He was treated for bruises and abrasions.
Per TMZ Sports, both men pleaded not guilty, and Hiligh's attorney spoke to reporters after the arraignment.