People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking the Columbus Police Department to reconsider their use of K9 officers. The formal request addressed to Chief Stoney Mathis last Friday comes on the heels of two high profile incidents involving canines at the department.
The Columbus Police Department announced October 14, 2026, that a newly acquired police K9 died after attacking his off-duty handler. The police officer sustained serious injuries which required surgery after the attack. NowGeorgia.com asked for clarification about how exactly the canine died during the attack but did not receive a response at the time this report was published. According to PETA, dogs—particularly those trained for patrol and apprehension—can bite when confused, in pain, or overstimulated.
Four months earlier on June 23, 2026, a Columbus K9 named Havoc was shot in the leg during the pursuit of a murder suspect. Police K9 Havoc was rushed to a medical facility for treatment and has since recovered from the shooting. During a previous interview regarding this incident Chief Mathis told NowGeorgia.com he considers the canines as police officers. “They go through some, you know, lots of training and they’re like family to us.” Chief Mathis said at the time…