Shaker Heights, Ohio, Police Officer Chad Hagan had to battle to keep his loyal K-9 partner, Igor, following the officer’s decision to pursue a position in another department. However, after a major public outcry, the City Council voted on December 15 to amend its existing ordinance to allow Hagan to purchase the dog.
The five-and-a-half-year partnership between Hagan and Igor came to an abrupt crossroads when Hagan opted to pursue a job opportunity with the Berea Police Department. Hagan had been commuting two hours to work in Shaker Heights, and the new position would be closer to his home in Brunswick, allowing him to spend more time with his family.
Typically, when a K-9 handler leaves the police department, the canine is retired and allowed to live with the handler. However, the Shaker Heights Police Department asserted that Igor, just over 6 years old, was still fit for duty for another three to four years. Hagan disagreed, contending that Igor was growing older and could not be transferred to another handler.
Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne Hudson attempted to negotiate terms for Hagan to stay on for two more years, after which Igor would be allowed to retire. However, Hagan declined the offer and proposed purchasing Igor for $10,000, a common practice in the realm of police K-9s.
The city denied Hagan’s offer, citing local laws that did not permit the chief to sell a police dog before its retirement. Hagan was forced to surrender Igor to a boarding kennel on November 29, a separation that devastated the family.
“We’re heartbroken. You know, we feel like our home is empty without Igor. It’s not the same. It’s very upsetting. You know, the whole situation is upsetting,” Hagan’s wife, Danielle, said.
“He’s been with us for our first home, our forever home, marriage, the baby, he’s a family member and we’re lost without him,” she added.
The estimated cost of purchasing and training a replacement canine is up to $20,000, according to the city. In a statement, the city emphasized that community safety remained a top priority, and any criticism of the chief’s judgment was unwarranted.
“It’s upsetting because Chad has done everything ever asked of him by that police department for the past seven years that he has been there, and it’s just very unfortunate that he’s getting treated this way,” Danielle Hagan said.
The decision led to an outpouring of support from the community, along with further efforts to persuade the city to change its course. As news of the dispute spread, a Change.org petition was initiated to encourage the city and the police department to reconsider their decision. Additionally, a Facebook support page named “Bring Canine Igor Home” rapidly gained support from community members who empathized with the Hagan family’s plight.
“We just want our best friend back, my husband’s best friend, he’s lost without him,” Danielle Hagan pleaded.
More than two weeks after Igor had been removed from the household, the Shaker Heights City Council held an emergency meeting to address the issue. The mayor, police chief and director of law all called on the council to amend the ordinance forbidding the sale of police dogs, and it unanimously voted to approve the change. Hagan was allowed to purchase Igor for $16,500, and the pair was reunited.
“We’re happy to have our family back for Christmas,” Hagan told Fox 8.
