Springfield pet-eating hoax

Summary

Starting in September 2024, false claims spread online saying Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, United States. The claims began with a local Facebook group post claiming a neighbor's daughter's cat had been butchered, and spread quickly among far-right and neo-Nazi groups. The claims were then amplified by prominent figures in the American right, most notably Republican Ohio senator and vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, followed by his running mate Donald Trump and allies such as Laura Loomer and Elon Musk. Subsequently, the person who posted to Facebook and her neighbor admitted the daughter's involvement was false and it was just a rumor from a friend's acquaintance, with whom they had not spoken.