A Memphis woman is accusing federal agents of animal cruelty after video surfaced appearing to show a U.S. marshal kicking her small dog during her boyfriend’s arrest, leaving the animal with a broken rib.
Emma Hollingsworth says the incident occurred as agents executed an arrest warrant at her apartment in Tennessee. In footage she posted to Facebook, several armed members of the United States Marshals Service are seen outside the building while her nine-month-old miniature Schnauzer, Yoshi, runs nearby, barking.
Hollingsworth has claimed the dog was kicked without justification, sending him briefly airborne. She says Yoshi was later taken to a veterinarian, where he was treated for a broken rib and prescribed pain medication.
“He was at no harm — they literally kicked him for no reason,” Hollingsworth said in the video. In a written post, she added, “This isn’t protection — this is abuse. Power doesn’t excuse abuse. Ever.”
Court records cited by local station Action News 5 show that agents were attempting to arrest Hollingsworth’s boyfriend, Jaquize Henderson, who was wanted in connection with a commercial burglary in North Mississippi. Hollingsworth acknowledged in her video that authorities had a valid arrest warrant.
Agents can be heard in the footage ordering that the dog be restrained. Hollingsworth later told Action News 5 that she was unable to secure Yoshi because a marshal was blocking her doorway.
U.S. Marshals on the scene where a SWAT standoff is taking place, 2026
The Marshals Service has disputed her account, offering a sharply different version of events. In a statement to media outlets, a spokesperson said the dog had gotten loose and “tried repeatedly and aggressively to attack the working K9.”
“While the appearance of the incident is unfortunate, the deputy marshal’s action was not done with malice,” the statement said. “It was a last-resort, split-second action taken to control the environment and mitigate a dangerous situation.”
The agency added that “an uncontrolled, aggressive animal can hinder official duties and threaten safety,” and reminded pet owners to keep animals leashed during law enforcement encounters.
