PETA Honors U.S. Customs K-9 Kicked at D.C. Airport While Safeguarding Border: Orthopedic Bed and Treats on the Way

For Immediate Release:
June 27, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

Washington –

He was “just doing his job,” sniffing out contraband foods that could endanger public health, so now an orthopedic bed and handmade dog treats are on the way from PETA to a beagle named Freddie, who works for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Washington Dulles International Airport and who, on Tuesday suffered injured ribs when a traveler, attempting to avoid interception, kicked him so hard that he was lifted off the floor.

According to CBP, Freddie’s attacker—who was allegedly trying to smuggle over 100 pounds of prohibited items, including 55 pounds of animal flesh—left him with contusions to his right forward rib area, an extremely painful condition. In PETA’s get-well card, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk, who is recovering from a rib injury due to a fall, wishes Freddie a comfortable and speedy recovery and asks CBP to ensure that Freddie receives long-term painkillers and sufficient time to rest and recover from the incident.

*Photo of Freddie courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.*

“As someone who recently suffered a rib contusion myself, I know how painful such an injury is and how much time and rest it takes to recover, so a comfortable place to lie down is key,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA’s gift of an orthopedic bed, along with appropriate pain medication from Freddie’s veterinarian, will help give him the support he needs to get back on his feet, and safeguard our national interests.”

Because of the uptick in reported cases of violence against K-9s, PETA now encourages law enforcement agencies to phase out the use of K-9s and shift toward modern policing technology. Freddie’s attacker pleaded guilty to a federal charge of harming an animal used in law enforcement and has been sent back to his country of origin.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.