SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — Shaker Heights City Council has approved an amendment allowing a former police officer to get his K-9 back.
City council held a special meeting on Friday with the purpose of "amending Section 141.07 of the Administrative Code of the Codified Ordinances of the City regarding the sale of Police dogs, and declaring an emergency."
The meeting came more than two weeks after former Shaker Heights police officer Chad Hagan surrendered 6 1/2-year-old German Shepard, Igor, after he informed the city he would now be working with the Berea Police Department. Under Shaker's previous ordinance, the dog, if deemed still fit for service, must remain with the city.
“We genuinely appreciate the love of animals that has inspired so many people from across the country and beyond to share their thoughts on this situation,” said Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss. “Our ordinance, which reflects long-standing state law and was known to Officer Hagan, did not provide the authority to address situations when a police officer leaves the department in advance of the retirement of their canine. Today’s Council action to amend the ordinance enables the amicable resolution reached today.”
Igor has remained in a kennel, out of service, for the past two weeks. A canine officer here in Greater Cleveland told WKYC, "The longer you have a K-9 sit with no training, the more worthless he or she becomes for the purpose of law enforcement."
Under the new amendment, an SHPD officer who leaves the city’s canine unit while their canine partner is still fit for duty, may be permitted to take ownership of their canine upon providing sufficient compensation to the city for:
- The purchase of a replacement police dog
- Training for the dog and a police officer handler
- All associated costs, as determined by the chief of police and finance director of the city
Following the agreement, Mayor Bradley said that the city would transfer ownership of the police dog to the former officer and that Igor would be available for pickup today. The reunion occurred just after 4 p.m., with Igor wagging his tale as he hugged Hagan for the first time in weeks.
Hagan's quest to keep Igor has drawn received national attention, with people across the country have been offering him the money, including with a GoFundMe that has already raised more than $11,000. PETA has also supported Hagan's efforts, and a Change.org petition has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures.
Hagan's attorney, DanaMarie Pannella, released the following statement after the news: