Clayton County police debunk viral video claims of dog abuse at animal shelter
CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - The Clayton County Police Department has refuted claims made in a viral video alleging that inmates at the county animal shelter abused a dog.
The department launched an investigation after the video, shared widely online, sparked public concern. Officials reviewed the footage and concluded the accusations were baseless.
"The citizen’s claims were completely unfounded and without merit," the department stated, explaining that what appeared to be a "dog’s head" in the video was actually an inmate’s elbow as they petted the dog.
The department released additional video from a different camera, which was in full color and from a different angle. The new angle shows an inmate petting the dog while two others stand nearby. Police explained that the original video came from an older motion-activated camera, which caused portions of the footage to be omitted.
The department said it is committed to transparency and accountability while discouraging the spread of false information. "While we encourage the reporting of legitimate concerns, false allegations harm public trust and detract from addressing real issues," the statement read.
Authorities also warned of the legal consequences of filing false reports. Under Georgia law, providing false information to law enforcement is a felony punishable by up to $1,000 in fines, one to five years in prison, or both.
The Source: The Clayton County Police Department provided the video and information for this story. The video has been blurred since any criminal accusations were unfounded.