UN INT Intro Text w/ Responsive Image - *Important Note* You must UNLINK this shared library component before making page-specific customizations.
Update (August 12, 2024): The Fayetteville City Council voted in favor of asking the court to release the police body-camera footage of this incident, in which a police officer punched his K-9 multiple times. A PETA representative spoke during the council meeting, saying that resistance to releasing the body-camera footage can only mean that there’s something to hide. A local dog behavior expert also spoke in favor of releasing the footage, which she said ought to be used as a “learning tool” to address what happens when an officer loses control.
Update (July 16, 2024): In the wake of prolonged silence and apparent inaction by the Fayetteville Police Department, PETA has sent a letter to city officials asking them to intervene in order to ensure the safety of the K-9 and the community.
Update (July 5, 2024): The Fayetteville Police Department released a statement indicating that the handler punched the dog in the face at least 7 times. The statement claims that the dog had bitten the handler and would not let go – something K9s are trained to do. PETA is calling for the department to release all footage of the incident, which shows why the use of bite-trained K-9s must be phased out for the safety of everyone. PETA also reiterates that the dog should be removed from this handler’s custody and the handler reassigned to duties that do not involve animals.
Original post:
Vid footage recorded by a bystander shows what appears to be a Fayetteville, North Carolina, police officer abusing a K-9 in public on a Saturday afternoon in late June. 😱 If watching it leaves you shook, please help make sure no other K-9s are harmed this way. Heads up—the vid is really disturbing, so don't feel like you have to watch it.
In the footage, the officer is seen holding the dog by the collar so that his front legs are off the ground. The officer punches the animal in the face at least three times with a closed fist. 😰 The officer then drags the dog by the collar toward a police car, and the K-9 turns his head and nips at the officer but doesn’t appear to make contact. The officer grabs the dog by the muzzle—forcing his mouth shut—and then swings him around by the collar while still holding his mouth closed. 😡
The Fayetteville Police Department released a statement that the incident “is being investigated by [its] internal affairs office”—but dogs like this K-9 need more than just an investigation. PETA is calling for the K-9 to be removed from the abusive handler immediately, for the officer to be reassigned to duties that don’t involve interaction with animals, and for the agency to review and revise its policies to use only humane K-9 training methods. If the department can’t commit to handling K-9s without abusing them, it should stop using dogs altogether. 👏
Because the agency has gone silent and refused to provide any more info about the status of the dog or the handler, PETA is calling on city officials with the authority to hold the police department responsible and to ensure the safety of the K-9 and the community. We’re also calling for an independent investigation by a nonbiased third-party agency for the sake of transparency and accountability.
What You Can Do
If you agree with us, please send a message to the mayor, the city manager, and the Fayetteville City Council. Be sure to keep your message polite and respectful.
You can use our sample letter, but remember that using your own words is always more effective.