PETA asks Columbus Police to end use of K9 officers

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.

In the letter addressed to Chief Mathis PETA is calling on the department to retire Havoc and phase out its use of dogs altogether. PETA said the police department could prevent future tragedies by replacing K9’s with state-of-the-art policing technology, such as tactical robots, drones, and portable mass spectrometers.

“Two harrowing incidents in less than four months should be a wake-up call that police work can be deadly for dogs and dangerous for everyone around them,” says PETA Vice President Daniel Paden. “PETA is urging Columbus police to retire Havoc and phase out its K-9 program in favor of modern policing technology that can keep communities safe without putting dogs in life-or-death situations they never signed up for.”

Below is a copy of the letter sent to Chief Stoney Mathis in its entirety.

Dear Chief Mathis:

I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) regarding the recent death of a K-9 who reportedly attacked his handler. We wish the officer who was injured a speedy recovery. Given this tragic event, only months after K-9 Havoc was injured during a suspect pursuit, would you please consider this an opportunity to retire Havoc and reassess the use of dogs?

Police work is inherently dangerous for everyone involved, and K-9 Havoc could have easily died during the shooting incident in June. We understand that the incident involving the newly acquired K-9 is under investigation, but it’s worth mentioning that police dogs – especially those trained in patrol work and apprehension – are prone to “accidental” bites when they are confused, in pain, or overstimulated.

Ongoing improvements and innovations in technology provide exciting opportunities to phase out the use of K-9s with equipment such as tactical robots, drones, or portable mass spectrometers, which enhance safety and operational efficiency without risking anyone’s life. Your department may be able to secure grant funding for new technology through the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. You might also find private or equipment-specific grant funding opportunities through PoliceGrantsHelp.com.

Thank you for your consideration and for all that you do to keep your community safe.

Most respectfully,

Allison Fandl
Manager of Special Projects
Cruelty Investigations Department | PETA