Overview
- According to social-media video and local reports, ICE agents detained the dogs’ owners in January 2026 and the two dogs remained locked inside the Oklahoma apartment for about a week with little or no food and water.
- A neighbor alerted the building manager and a rescuer using the handle 'Animal Welfare Guy' posted footage that led animal-welfare officials to remove the trembling, frightened dogs and provide food and water.
- A DHS spokesperson told reporters that detainees are given opportunities to arrange care for their pets after arrest, and DHS confirmed that ICE does not have formal protocols to impound property, which the agency says includes animals.
- The Independent and other outlets have published the episode based on the video and local accounts and have sought comment from ICE, which has not provided detailed public responses in the cited coverage.
- Local animal services and rescues report higher numbers of surrendered or stray pets in jurisdictions with ICE operations, including a 38 percent rise logged by St. Paul Animal Services in January 2026, which strains shelters and separates pets from families.