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Update (August 12, 2024): The Fayetteville City Council voted in favor of petitioning 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, stating 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 seven times. The statement claims that the dog had bitten the handler and wouldn’t let go—something K-9s 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 should be phased out for everyone’s safety. PETA also reiterates that the dog should be removed from this handler’s custody and the handler reassigned to duties that don’t involve animals.
Original post:
Video 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. In the footage, the handler is seen holding the dog by the collar so that the animal’s front legs are off the ground while the officer punches him in the face at least three times with a closed fist. The handler then drags the dog by the collar toward a police car, and the K-9 turns his head and nips at the handler but doesn’t appear to make contact. The handler grabs the dog by the muzzle, forcing his mouth shut, then swings him around by the collar while still holding his mouth closed.
The Fayetteville Police Department released a statement saying that the incident “is being investigated by [its] internal affairs office.” PETA is calling for the K-9 to be removed from the abusive handler’s custody 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 training methods for K-9s. If the department cannot commit to handling its K-9s without abusing them, it should stop using dogs altogether.
Because the agency has gone silent and refused to provide any further information concerning 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.
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.
Feel free to use our sample letter, but remember that using your own words is always more effective.