Sheriff's Office Renames Puppy After Public Backlash over Ties to Nazi Germany
Hours after introducing the newest bloodhound member of their law enforcement team, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Florida was met with opposition to the puppy’s name.
On April 5, the LCSO proudly introduced Rommel, a 10-week old bloodhound preparing to enter training to learn his role as a police dog.
While viewers loved the dog’s long ears and sandy colored face and seemed to be supportive of the addition of another dog to the team, some viewers found the dog’s name to be offensive because the name Rommel has ties to a Nazi general from World War II.
“Cute dog. Too bad he got named for a Nazi hero. I find that offensive to me and the dog,” one reader commented, which has since been deleted. “We have plenty of American heroes this fine animal could be named after.”
“Beautiful Baby. Please change his name,” another reader wrote.
Commenters were referring to Erwin Rommel, who was a Nazi general during World War II.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office renames puppy after receiving backlash on social media https://t.co/C2i2RQbdMj pic.twitter.com/QRsXf6mZr6
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) April 5, 2019
Later that day, the LCSO posted an update on the dog, explaining that his name had been changed to Scout.
“Meet LCSO’s newest Bloodhound, “Scout” (formerly Rommel),” the post read. “He is a 10 week old liver colored bloodhound now assigned to Master Deputy Meintzschel.”
“Scout will soon begin his rigorous training to support the community by locating missing persons, fugitives, and evidence. Welcome aboard Scout!”
The LCSO continued the post by explaining why the dog was originally named Rommel.
“Although the original name chosen by Deputy Meintzschel was actually chosen due to a beloved childhood pet he had as an adolescent, he just learned that the name was tied to a Nazi war criminal,” the LCSO wrote.
“That being said, knowing that this four-legged public servant belongs to the taxpayers of Lake County and his sensitivity to our Veterans, he immediately renamed him ‘Scout.'”
“Thank you to everyone who brought this to our attention and allowing us to correct it right away.”
While some readers are satisfied with the name change, others rushed to social media to defend the name Rommel, arguing that some people are simply too easily offended.
Do you agree that the LCSO made the right call in changing the dog’s name?
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