People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, known as PETA, has urged Park City Police Chief Wade Carpenter to retire K-9 Bruno following a line-of-duty injury, according to a report published October 16, 2026.
The request follows the release of department video showing the dog leaping from a highway overpass, an incident that caused the animal to break both front legs and its jaw.
The incident occurred while Bruno was investigating a suspicious package suspected to be an explosive device, though the item was later determined not to be an explosive. For reasons unknown, the dog leaped from the overpass, falling an estimated 35 feet to the surface of Interstate 80.
Video footage captured the dog's handler rushing to the animal to provide comfort while a Life Flight helicopter was dispatched to the scene. Bruno was transported to a trauma veterinarian in Salt Lake City for emergency surgery before being moved to his handler's home for recovery.
PETA Vice President Daniel Paden stated that while police work is inherently dangerous, dogs like Bruno do not choose to risk their lives in the line of duty. The organization is calling for the department to replace K-9 units with advanced technology, such as tactical robots, drones, or portable mass spectrometers, to perform dangerous tasks without risking animals.
In a letter sent to Carpenter, PETA Manager of Special Projects Allison Fandl suggested the department reassess its use of K-9s and explore grant funding for new technology. Potential funding sources mentioned include the Utah Department of Criminal Justice, the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
As of the October 16, 2026, report, Carpenter has not publicly shared a response to the letter from PETA.
