The popular social-networking website Facebook has shut down a web page accusing Dalhousie University of killing dogs and puppies.

The group, called "Stop Dogs and Puppies from being murdered at Dalhousie University," was created in late July by someone named Amy Scott, who said she heard dogs barking on campus. It had 15,000 members.

The university asked Facebook to remove the group earlier this week, saying the posting was defamatory and simply untrue.

"If your group's entire preface is based around something that's factually incorrect, you're starting from a pretty weak position," said Dalhousie spokesman Charles Crosby.

Crosby said the university has not done experiments involving dogs for more than a decade.

He said the university heard about the Facebook page a week ago but only decided to take action when the group's creator stopped allowing comments and feedback.

"At that point we decided we can't allow a group out there to put that kind of inaccurate information out there and not have any kind of vehicle for response," he said.

Crosby said the university has been unable to contact Scott or verify her identity, nor does it appear that she is a student at Dalhousie.

Facebook will remove groups and postings if they are defamatory or fraudulent.