SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Officials in Springfield, Ohio, said Monday they have not received any credible reports of Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets, despite viral claims on social media that have been amplified by Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and others.
The Springfield News-Sun reported that a social media originally from a Springfield Facebook group went viral nationally in recent days.
While not citing first-hand knowledge, the poster claimed that their neighbor’s daughter’s friend had lost her cat and found it hanging from a branch at a Haitian neighbor’s home being carved up to be eaten.
References to the claim have garnered millions of views on X, with Vance’s post racking up 4 million views alone, as of Monday evening.
Vance, the Republican senator of Ohio, said he had previously raised the issue of Haitian immigrants “causing chaos all over Springfield,” adding “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”
The House Judiciary GOP, Sen. Ted Cruz and Elon Musk, the owner of X, also posted about the claim on Monday. Cruz, a Texas Republican, posted a meme on X showing two cats holding each other, with text that reads "Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don't eat us."
But the city's spokesperson told CBS News and WHIO-TV there have been "no credible reports or specific claims" of pets being harmed by migrants.
"In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community," said Karen Graves, strategic engagement manager for Springfield.
Springfield, a city of just under 58,000 people, has seen a large increase in migrants arriving in the last several years.
There are an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 migrants in Ohio's Clark County, with more than 10,000 coming from Haiti, according to local officials. The Springfield-based Haitian Community Help and Support Center was established in 2023 to help assist migrants, especially Haitians, arriving in Clark County.
In addition to dispelling rumors about harm to pets, the city's spokesperson said there were no confirmed instances of migrants squatting, littering or deliberately disrupting traffic.