A shocking and completely unfounded claim has recently gained traction, alleging that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are resorting to eating domestic pets. This rumor, amplified by prominent figures like former President Donald Trump and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate JD Vance, has sparked outrage and concern. But is there any truth to these accusations? Let’s examine the facts and debunk this harmful misinformation.
During a recent ABC presidential debate, Donald Trump asserted, “In Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.” This alarming statement quickly spread across social media, fueled further by JD Vance, who shared the claim on X (formerly Twitter), garnering over 11 million views. However, despite the virality of these claims, Springfield city officials have firmly stated to BBC Verify that there have been “no credible reports” to support these allegations of immigrants Eating Dogs And Cats.
Getty Images Donald Trump giving a
The White House National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, condemned Vance’s comments as “dangerous” and labeled the pet-eating claim as a “conspiracy theory… based on an element of racism,” highlighting the damaging nature of such baseless accusations.
Tracing the Origins of the False Claim
The origin of this disturbing rumor appears to be multifaceted, pieced together from disparate sources and amplified by pro-Trump social media accounts to create a narrative lacking any factual basis.
One source can be traced back to a Springfield City Commission meeting on August 27th. During this meeting, a local individual identifying himself as a “social media influencer” delivered a speech vehemently opposing Haitian immigrants. His unsubstantiated grievances included the accusation that immigrants were killing park ducks for food and that city officials were being bribed to bring them into the city. He offered no evidence to support these claims, including the notion of immigrants eating local wildlife, let alone domestic animals.
Another instance involves a Facebook post within a Springfield crime-focused group. This post alleged that a cat was killed by Haitian immigrants, attributing the information to a second-hand source – a “friend of a neighbour’s daughter.” This vague and unverifiable anecdote further contributed to the growing, yet unsubstantiated, narrative.
Adding fuel to the fire, Trump also claimed during the presidential debate to have seen “people on television [saying] ‘My dog was taken and used for food’”. However, BBC Verify conducted a thorough review of major US broadcasters like Fox, CNN, and CBS, along with extensive keyword searches on social media, and found absolutely no evidence of any televised interview supporting this claim of pets being stolen and eaten.
Separately, a genuine news report from Fox News detailed the arrest of an Ohio woman in Canton – approximately 170 miles from Springfield – for killing and eating a cat. This incident, along with police bodycam footage, circulated online around late August. Right-wing commentators quickly and falsely linked this incident to Haitian immigrants in Springfield, using it as “evidence” to support the unfounded claim of Haitian immigrants eating pets. However, Canton Police Department confirmed to the BBC that the woman involved was a US citizen born in 1997 and explicitly stated they have “not dealt with any complaints of Haitian immigrants at all,” clearly separating this isolated incident from the broader, baseless accusations against the immigrant community in Springfield.
The Springfield City Commission reiterated to BBC Verify regarding these swirling rumors: “There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” This official statement directly contradicts the widespread and harmful misinformation.
Other Misleading Incidents Used to Propagate the Rumor
Further contributing to the confusion and misinformation, a Reddit post surfaced featuring a photo of a man in Columbus, Ohio, carrying what appeared to be a dead goose. This image was then amplified by conservative outlets, suggesting it was evidence of immigrants hunting and eating local animals in Ohio.
Additionally, right-wing news outlet The Federalist published a story with an audio recording purportedly from a non-emergency police call in Springfield. The caller claimed to have witnessed four Haitians carrying four geese. The article also included what was purported to be a police report from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office related to this call. However, when BBC Verify contacted the sheriff’s office, they directed inquiries to a Springfield City government spokesperson, who confirmed that “these claims were not substantiated,” further undermining the narrative of widespread animal consumption by immigrants.
Viral Memes and Social Media Amplification
The baseless claims about Haitian immigrants eating dogs and cats have been further amplified through social media, with memes and posts going viral and reaching millions.
Elon Musk himself shared memes referencing these unfounded rumors, significantly expanding their reach. Charlie Kirk, CEO of Turning Point, a conservative activist group, falsely stated, “Residents of Springfield, OH are reporting that Haitians are eating their family pets.” Even official Republican party social media channels, such as the Republican House Judiciary Committee X account, promoted these claims. The committee’s X account posted an AI-generated image of former President Trump hugging a duck and a cat, captioned “Protect our ducks and kittens in Ohio!”, a post viewed nearly 70 million times.
X/JudiciaryGOP A screenshot of the official Republican House Judiciary Committee X account with an AI-generated image of former president Trump hugging a duck and a cat with the caption
While JD Vance initially promoted the rumor, he later appeared to backtrack, stating on X, “It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.” However, he then paradoxically added, “keep the cat memes flowing,” demonstrating a continued, albeit perhaps ironic, engagement with the harmful narrative. When questioned on CNN about the claims, Vance defended his initial stance by stating, “The evidence is the first-hand account of my constituents who are telling me this happened,” and controversially added, “If i have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what i’m going to do,” seemingly justifying the spread of misinformation for political gain.
The Reality of Haitian Immigrants in Springfield
Springfield, Ohio, a city in the Rust Belt, has a population of approximately 60,000 and has experienced a significant influx of immigrants in recent years. City officials estimate that up to 20,000 Haitian immigrants have settled in Springfield, reversing a long period of population decline. These new residents have contributed to the revitalization of local industries but have also placed a strain on public services. JD Vance, an Ohio senator who represents the state and grew up near Springfield, has frequently discussed the city in his political campaigns.
Getty Images Aerial view of Springfield, Ohio.
In conclusion, the claim that Haitian immigrants are eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio is demonstrably false. It is a baseless rumor fueled by misinformation, anecdotal evidence, and politically motivated amplification. Official sources from Springfield city authorities have refuted these claims, and thorough investigations have found no credible evidence to support them. This false narrative appears to be rooted in prejudice and xenophobia, exploiting anxieties around immigration for political purposes. It’s crucial to rely on factual reporting and official sources to debunk such harmful rumors and avoid perpetuating misinformation that can damage communities and incite prejudice.
BBC Verify logo, signifying the source of fact-checked information debunking the false claims.
