Debunked Conspiracy About Gov. Tim Walz's Dog 'Scout' Goes Viral

ST. PAUL, MN — A debunked conspiracy theory involving Gov. Tim Walz's dog "Scout" rapidly gained traction online Monday, spreading false claims across social media.

The theory emerged after users circulated two photos of Scout, shared by Walz on social media four months apart in 2022.

Conspiracy theorists pointed out differences between the dogs in the pictures, suggesting that Walz had secretly replaced the original Scout with a new dog, believing no one would notice.

However, this claim quickly unraveled. One of the images used to support the theory was a screenshot taken from a video that featured Walz with Scout and another dog, both playing in the same park.

The presence of two dogs in the video had been misinterpreted by conspiracy theorists. Walz introduced Scout to the world in 2019.

Despite being debunked, the theory was amplified by prominent figures, including decorated NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and Minnesota state Rep. Mary Franson, who shared the misinformation with their followers on social media, fueling further speculation.