SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio — It's day 14, and Igor the police dog still sits in this kennel in Parma, his fate still unknown.
Two weeks ago, his handler — former Shaker Heights Officer Chad Hagan — surrendered the 6 1/2-year-old German Shepard after he informed the city he would now be working with the Berea Police Department. Under Shaker's ordinance, the dog, if deemed still fit for service, must remain with the city
At Tuesday's meeting, we asked several councilmembers as well as the city's mayor about Igor, and only Councilwoman Anne Williams would comment.
"I will defer until I get a little more information tonight," Williams said.
Here is the information 3News has obtained: A canine officer here in Greater Cleveland, on the record, told me, "The longer you have a K-9 sit with no training, the more worthless he or she becomes for the purpose of law enforcement."
Igor also has only known one handler, and the source added, "Trying to interchange handlers is counterproductive to a canine unit."
In addition, Will Rosch — a police and rescue dog trainer in Northeast Ohio for more than two decades — stated, "A K-9 will become destructive caged up because they are not doing their job."
Hagan has agreed to pay $10,000 to take Igor and allow the city to obtain another dog, but officials thus far have not accepted the proposal. People across the country have been offering him the money, including with a GoFundMe that has already raised more than $11,000. PETA is now supporting Hagan's efforts, and a Change.org petition has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures.
Back at Shaker Heights City Hall, Council went into executive session, where multiple members have told 3news Igor's status would be discussed. In the meantime, Igor sits in the shelter, not doing the job he was hired to do.