Additional Coverage:
**Police Deny Claims of Immigrants Eating Pets in Dayton, Ohio**
Authorities in Dayton, Ohio, have dismissed online allegations suggesting that immigrants are consuming pets, labeling the claims as “irresponsible.”
The police released this statement after a video and article emerged alleging that African immigrants in Dayton were grilling dead cats. These claims were circulated by Ohio Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, Donald Trump Jr., and others via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal emphasized the baselessness of these allegations, stating, “We stand by our immigrant community and there is no evidence to even remotely suggest that any group, including our immigrant community, is engaged in eating pets. It is disheartening to see politicians use outlandish information to appeal to their constituents.”
This follows previous unfounded accusations that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, a city less than 30 miles from Dayton, were involved in pet abductions and consumption — claims which former President Donald Trump reiterated during a Tuesday night debate, despite denials from city officials.
On Saturday, Vance reiterated the claims, sharing the new allegations on X. He accused Vice President Kamala Harris and the media of ignoring a supposedly credible story, writing, “Another ‘debunked’ story that turned out to have merit.”
Since Trump’s statements, schools and hospitals in Springfield have faced several bomb threats. Wittenberg University in Springfield announced heightened security measures after receiving an email threat targeting Haitian community members on campus.
The FBI told CBS News it is working with Springfield Police and Wittenberg University to evaluate the recent threats and take necessary investigative actions.
Conservative writer Christopher Rufo posted the new claim on Substack, based on an August 2023 video initially shared on social media by a Dayton resident. The video shows animal carcasses on a grill, with the filmmaker alleging they are cats and joking about the presence of live cats nearby.
Rufo claims he interviewed the video’s creator, who believes the carcasses were cats. Rufo collaborated with online magazine IM-1776 on the story. A reporter from the magazine visited the location and spoke with neighbors who believed African immigrants owned the grill, although CBS News could not verify the residents’ identities or origins.
The latest claim has sparked backlash and skepticism, with many suggesting the carcasses looked more like chickens. CBS News has reached out to veterinary experts for identification.
Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims Jr. also condemned the allegations as “totally false and dangerously irresponsible of politicians aiming to sow division and fear,” noting there have been “absolutely zero reports of this type of activity.”