The NYC Dog Mayor race, which sparked a lot of excitement, took a dark turn when Oliva Caputo, the owner of Enzo, a two-year-old Shih Tzu, decided to pull her dog out of the competition.
Just a day before the final vote, Caputo stepped away due to a wave of disturbing comments and threats that followed Enzo’s participation in the race.
Crypto Involvement and Election Controversy
Caputo had entered Enzo in the contest with high hopes, aiming to let her beloved pup compete in his first election.
However, things took a sharp turn when she discovered a crypto group, which she likened to a “public Telegram group,” was swaying voters to support one of Enzo’s competitors, Bertram the Pomeranian.
By Sunday, Caputo took to Instagram, where Enzo has over 92,000 followers, announcing he would be withdrawing from the race.
She blasted the crypto group, accusing them of caring more about their own agendas than the spirit of the Dog Mayor race.
Violent Threats Targeting Enzo and Caputo
But it wasn’t just the crypto group’s involvement that led to Enzo’s withdrawal.
Caputo was horrified to find numerous threats of violence aimed at both Enzo and herself.
One user in the crypto group allegedly wrote that they wanted to “smash this f*** Enzo,” while another posted a more chilling message.
Caputo shared these disturbing screenshots with the Daily Mail.
These attacks came as a shock to her, especially since she had struggled with her own mental health, finding comfort and support in Enzo.
Lack of Support from NYC Dog Mayor Organizers
Feeling overwhelmed by the hate, Caputo reached out to Stephen Calabria, the founder of the NYC Dog Mayor race, hoping to get some support and bring attention to the threats she and Enzo were facing.
However, Calabria denied any knowledge of such issues, stating that he was unaware of any threats directed at Enzo.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Calabria also clarified that the election had no corporate or personal affiliations, despite the interference from the crypto community.
He said that the competition was meant to be “fun” and “inclusive” and vowed to protect the dogs involved.
Caputo, frustrated by Calabria’s dismissive response, felt that he should have condemned the hateful messages instead of implying she was lying.
The situation escalated when Calabria blocked and unblocked Caputo multiple times on social media, and Caputo alleged that some of Enzo’s followers were also blocked for speaking out against the situation.
Bertram’s Owner Denies Knowledge of the Crypto Scheme
While Caputo was dealing with these challenges, Bertram the Pomeranian’s owner, Kathy Grayson, claimed she had no knowledge of the crypto group’s influence on the race.
Despite the controversy, Grayson’s dog is still in the running and will compete against a new opponent, Simon, in the final vote on November 11.
Moving On from the Mayoral Race
Caputo has since decided to step back from any future competitions for Enzo, expressing how disappointed and disheartened she felt by the entire ordeal.
She pointed out how some people, including Calabria’s camp, brushed off the situation, suggesting it wasn’t serious.
Despite acknowledging that the race wasn’t a “life-changing event,” Caputo believes Calabria’s response turned it into something far bigger than it ever should have been.
As for the future of the NYC Dog Mayor race, it remains to be seen how the controversy will affect the competition.
On November 11, Bertram will face off against Simon, whose owner has already said he doesn’t care if the crypto group’s influence affects the outcome.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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