Ohio officer’s fight to keep his K9 partner with his family sparked a viral movement after the city reportedly refused to accept compensation 10,000 times greater than standard.
(Video: Fox News)
After being notified in September of Officer Chad Hagan’s decision to relocate to a different police department to be closer to family, the Shaker Heights Police Department and city officials in the suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, have remained adamant in their decision against the retirement of K9 Igor that the dog may “live the rest of his life happy.”
On Monday, Hagan and his wife Danielle joined “Fox & Friends First” to detail their story that included financial efforts beyond what is typically expected for the officers to stay united.
“He is our family. He’s my husband’s best friend. He’s with him 24/7. Igor knows no one else,” expressed Danielle.
According to the couple, following Hagan’s initial notice to the department, he was instructed to separate from Igor that the dog might begin to acclimate to a new handler. Having been denied a request to retire the dog, the family offered $10,000 to compensate the department when it has been reported $1.00 was the standard.
“Ultimately, the chief of police said that Igor is a tool and there’s no financial number that could ever purchase him,” Hagan told Fox News.
A petition to “Bring K9 Igor Home!!” stated, “Though O.R.C. 9.62 states that K9 handlers are to pay $1.00 for their K9 partners at retirement, Officer Hagan recognized that though K9 Igor was very close to retirement he would still purchase the city a new K9 with the above stated funds. This offer was denied, due to a clear act of spite.”
“It’s unfortunate because I’ve been with Igor almost his whole life, and I know him personally. And the fact that they’re saying that he’s not slowing down and there’s no change…I don’t know who made that decision or who said that, but it’s not true,” Hagan explained.
A statement from Shaker Heights that downplayed suggestions of Chief Wayne Hudson’s “vindictiveness” contended, “Igor is a six-year-old German Shepherd and, if his health remains strong, he is expected to be fit for duty for another three or four years. Officer Hagan proposed purchasing Igor. However, according to the city’s laws, the city’s administration, including the chief, has no authority to sell the dog.”
“Igor’s six-and-a-half, almost seven-years-old and everyone knows that dog starts slowing down,” argued Hagan. “He’s past his prime. We wake up in the morning, get ready for work, he doesn’t wanna follow me down the stairs because his body’s aching. He’s been a working dog for however many years. He’s worked hard. He’s done his time, and he deserves to be at home with the family, be comfortable and just live the rest of his life happy.”
Describing the bond between the pair, Danielle also remarked on the services that Igor had provided for the city and in protecting her husband, “He protects the city that he works for. He has, multiple times, had many apprehensions. He’s a narcotics search dog. He has rescued many people, and in many different situations. He’s saved Chad’s life on multiple occasions.”
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals joined in speaking on Hagan’s behalf as the mangaer of their Cruelty Investigation Department, Allison Fandl, submitted a letter to Hudson that challenged the claim the city was not authorized to sell Igor to the family and cautioned, “Sudden separation and kenneling would be certain to cause significant distress to Igor.”
Letter from PETA to police chief of Shaker Heights, Ohio@RealJamesWoods #SaveK9Igor pic.twitter.com/hWGW4TqXnZ
— ROLL TIDE (@DeniseWalden11) December 12, 2023
Following submission of his resignation on Thanksgiving Day, Igor was turned over to by Hagan and the K9 had reportedly remained boarded in a kennel for roughly two weeks at the time of this post.
Woods shared an image of the kennel where Igor was reportedly being held after having reacted to initial reports that detailed the family’s travails. That post had included the phone number for the mayor and police chief with the caption, “You know what to do, friends.”
You know what to do, friends. https://t.co/rptVfIVx7q
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) December 11, 2023
Here’s where K9 Igor has been sent to continue his service… #SaveK9Igor pic.twitter.com/24HbO01lhh
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) December 11, 2023
At the time of this post, a crowdfunding page to support the family’s effort to reunite with Igor had raised more than $11,000 of a $30,000 goal.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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