No Charges Filed in Oklahoma After Videotaped Attack on Small Dog?

Update (May 9, 2023): We understand that the Pittsburg County District Attorney’s Office may be telling callers that the police need to investigate, but we were told that the police department forwarded the case to the district attorney, and his staff let us know he declined to pursue it. Should they ask you for the case number, it’s 2023-0168.

Original post:

In February, a video reportedly captured in McAlester, Oklahoma, started making the rounds and eventually went viral. The disturbing footage depicted a man drying a small dog with a towel and becoming increasingly violent with the terrified animal—ultimately landing blows on the dog, throwing and pinning them to a concrete curb, choking them, and then hurling them by the scruff of the neck into his residence. The obviously traumatized dog tried in vain to escape and frantically screamed throughout the attack, which seemed to last forever. Authorities had passed the case on to the Pittsburg County district attorney, and PETA promptly beseeched him to consider felony cruelty-to-animals charges, which would appear to be wholly merited, as Oklahoma §21-1685 prohibits the cruel beating of animals, with no exemptions. He remained unresponsive, despite our multiple attempts to follow up with his office, and PETA caseworkers recently learned that, mystifyingly, the case was rejected! Making matters worse, the dog is reportedly still with the man who so viciously victimized the animal.


Video of the incident recorded on February 4, 2023

Please contact the Pittsburg County District Attorney’s Office, the mayor of McAlester, and city council members and request that additional consideration be given to these charges. Ask that the dog be confiscated for their own safety while the case is being prosecuted, as is common in such cases, and that, should there be a conviction, this man be prohibited from owning or harboring animals for as long as possible.

Please post polite comments to the city on Facebook:

City of McAlester

The mayor has issued a statement that this case is out of his hands, but as a public figure in a position of power, he can help keep attention on it until justice is served. Contact him on Facebook:

Mayor John Browne

And call or e-mail the following:

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Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind

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