Levin teenager Ethan McLean has realised the dangers of social media since he posted a graphic picture of a slaughtered horse.
Last week, the Herald on Sunday reported a storm of protest followed McLean's Facebook entry.
This week however, the teen said he did not intend to offend and it was a stupid thing to do.
On Tuesday he walked into the Horowhenua Chronicle office to apologise.
"I'm sorry. I know now that I should not have done it," he said.
McLean said he loaded the picture of the slain horse on Facebook to show his friends what he did for a job, although his father and director of No Hassell Pet Foods denied he had been employed there.
A contrite McLean said Levin was a small town and he did not want his family picked on.
Matthew Stone, director of animal and products standards with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, said the pet food facility was inspected this week but no report had been filed yet.
The 36-year-old died on December 19.