Charles Carey was only 17 when he was mauled by a police dog in his neighbors’ backyard. But these attacks on Black people are nothing new, and they’re getting worse.
These dogs are bad for our health aside from biting. We receive just over $7,300 of health care services each year. But when it comes to K-9 officers, about $20-30,000 each year goes into their overall well-being including vet bills.
According to a Vice report, “Police K-9s are ‘grossly, disproportionately’ used against people of color, inflict gruesome lifelong injuries, and often attack people who have committed minor crimes.”
While local precincts keep records of attacks, there is no standard rule of measure of police bites. There isn’t a countrywide database or requirements for these dogs’ handlers. Yet one thing is undeniable; they’ve been used to terrorize Black America for too long.
When we say all cops are bad and the police need to be defunded and abolished, that includes their furry companions. Animals may not have a choice in training, but they’re still out here hunting us down for sport.