Springfield mayor: ‘Your pets are safe’

Springfield, Ohio, Mayor Rob Rue in an interview late Thursday assured residents that their “pets are safe” and dismissed claims about Haitian migrants amplified by former President Trump at the debate with Vice President Harris earlier this week.

“I’d like to first say Springfield is still beautiful and your pets are safe in Springfield, Ohio. Safe,” Rue said on NewsNation’s “Cuomo” with Chris Cuomo.

Rue said Trump’s amplification of false claims has “created a negative light” for the city.

“These claims are, they were just untrue. And we may mention that … we just don’t see reports of those,” Rue said of Trump’s remark.

During the debate Tuesday, Trump referred to a false allegation amplified by his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), that people’s pets were being eaten by migrants in Springfield.

“A lot of towns don’t want to talk about it, because they’re so embarrassed by it. In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs,” Trump said.

Rue, local police and city authorities all say no pet abductions have been reported and dismissed the claims.

“There’s a lot of frenzy on the internet, but this is not what we’re seeing,” the mayor said. “It’s a bit frustrating.”

Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also brushed off the claim, saying the internet can be “quite crazy sometimes.”

Rue did say that Springfield is dealing with “an infrastructure strain” due to an influx of migrants arriving in the city. He said he’s reached out for help, including translation services, so they can understand migrants’ needs.

He also said migrants are choosing Springfield because there are job opportunities and a housing boom.

“There’s a lot of good things happening in Springfield,” he said, noting the cost of living and opportunity in surrounding communities.

Rue also said Springfield is starting to see a “culture clash” as the false claims about migrants spread and are amplified by a presidential candidate.

“There is a culture clash, and we see it and we know it, but … it’s just hitting us from all levels, and the federal leaders who had the national stage did not help us solve this problem,” he said.

Springfield City Hall was evacuated Thursday after a bomb threat. The city government said in a post online it was closing City Hall as a precautionary measure after the bomb threat was issued to multiple Springfield facilities.

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