PETA’s founder offers robot dog if Pitt County Sheriff’s Office ends K9 program

PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - PETA’s founder is offering to buy the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office a robot dog after K9 Chilli died in a hot car last month, but under a few conditions.

The organization says the sheriff’s office must end its K9 program and replace dogs with technology.

PETA also asked the sheriff’s office to have the State Bureau of Investigation investigate Chilli’s death.

Officials say the bomb detection K9 died on duty June 11 after being left in her handler’s hot car. The temperature reached 99 degrees that day.

In a letter to the sheriff’s office, PETA says the extreme heat was no surprise and argues Chilli’s handler should have known the car did not have features to ensure her safety.

PETA says founder Ingrid Newkirk made the offer to buy a robot dog, such as Boston Dynamics’ Spot, because Chilli died on her birthday.

The base price for Spot starts at about $74,500, according to IEEE Spectrum.

The sheriff’s office has not said how long Chilli was in the car or how hot it got inside.

Chilli joined the team in May 2025. The deputy involved has not been identified.

WITN has reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment and is waiting on a response.