A loyal Ohio K-9 police dog will be allowed to live out his days with his handler of five years after his police chief bowed to pressure from outraged members of the public, demanding the service animal be reunited with his police officer partner.
On Friday afternoon, Officer Chad Hagen was reunited with his K-9, a six-year-old German shepherd named Igor.
Hagen had worked alongside his faithful companion for five years at the City of Shaker Heights Police Department, but just before Thanksgiving he resigned having secured a new job closer to home.
Hagen offered $10,000 of his own money to the force so that he might be allowed to take his K-9 along with him, but Police Chief Wayne Hudson insisted Igor stay, noting how he had several years of service left to give the community.
The decision was a crushing blow to the officer who had developed a unique bond with the dog, who spent most of his time with his human officer, even living at home with his wife and young child.
K-9 Igor and his handler Officer Chad Hagen were reunited after spending weeks apart
Officer Hagen has been granted permission by his former chief to take his K-9 partner, Igor, along with him, for $16,500
Officer Chad Hagen had initially offered $10,000 having worked alongside one another for five years at the City of Shaker Heights Police Department
Igor is pictured alongside Officer Hagen on their ride home from the kennels on Friday
On Facebook on Friday afternoon, Danielle Hagan, Chad’s wife, posted a message of joy
The dog was then placed into kennels, where he stayed for two weeks until finally being released on Friday.
Following a social media campaign in which a Change.org petition generated 37,000 signatures and GoFundMe campaign raised $17,000, Igor has been allowed to stay with Hagen, with the officer agreeing to fork over $16,500 to his former force.
Posting on Facebook on Friday afternoon, Danielle Hagan, Chad’s wife, shared a message of joy.
‘OUR IGOR MAN IS COMING HOME! From the bottom of our hearts, we can not thank all of you enough. I truly believe we would have not had this outcome without the help and support we have received. Between the messages, prayers, petition, and gofundme, we have been overwhelmed with love. We honestly can not say thank you enough.
‘Igor will be picked up in a few hours when the kennel opens and there will be many pictures and videos taken. I promise to post them and of course send updates of Igor! He has a warm bath, steak dinner, and all the love and cuddles coming his way tonight. We are over the moon excited.’
The $16,500 will be used by the police department to purchase a new K-9 dog and provide training for the dog and a police officer handler.
‘The City of Shaker Heights has reached agreement with a former Shaker Heights Police Department (SHPD) officer made possible by a change in City law enacted in which the City agreed to transfer ownership of the SHPD police dog to the officer who was his handler, and the City will be compensated by the funding of a replacement police dog, and training for the dog and another officer, through a police dog kennel,’ the police department explained in a statement on Friday.
Igor was heard howling for joy as he rode alongside his longtime partner of five years
The pair restored their bonds with one another and played a game of fetch outside
Officer Hagen proved that Igor still listens to his human counterpart when instructed to sit
Igor poses with his partner’s baby
Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss, pictured, defended the council’s earlier decision not to release Igor stating that Hagen knew the rules – but clearly underestimated the bond formed between the pair
‘The new amendment of the City law provides that 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… as determined by the chief of police and finance director of the City.’
The city council defended their earlier decision not to release Igor stating that Hagen knew the rules – but they clearly underestimating the bond formed between the pair.
‘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.’ f
Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne Hudson has come in for criticism over the past week which the mayor also blasted.
‘The City has been working in good faith on this issue and it is unfortunate and disappointing that some people took this as an opportunity to post vile, racist, hate speech online directed at the City’s first black chief of police,’ the mayor said.
Last week, Ohio police officer Chad Hagen moved to a new force but his chief initially denied his request to take his K-9 partner, Igor, along with him, despite offering $10,000
Chad is pictured together with his wife, Danielle, and Igor the German Shepherd K-9 officer
Officer Hagen released a statement expressing their joy the matter has been resolved
Speaking before the agreement was reached Danielle had devastated by the prospect of never seeing the dog again.
‘He’s been with us through our first home, our forever home, marriage, having a baby. Been with us through everything. We’re the only family that he knows.’
Hagen is leaving the force to move to another job in law enforcement closer to where he lives and did not believe his request and subsequent offer of cash was unreasonable.
When Officer Hagen gave his two-weeks notice on Thanksgiving he was instructed turn Igor in at a local kennel – all at local taxpayers’ expense.
‘The first thing that was said to him by the chief was, ‘We need to figure out what we’re going to do with Igor.’ That kind of struck Chad the wrong way. He wasn’t saying he was leaving. So, when that happened he was like ‘Well wow … that kind of a slap in the face,” Danielle Hagen explained.
‘We offered $10,000 of our own money and to be honest, I guarantee Chad would have paid more than that. But, the chief came back and said no financial number will be considered,’ she said.
The City of Shaker Heights said at the time that the administration did not have the authority to sell the dog but at a council meeting this week, local laws were amended in order that Igor might be allowed to be ‘purchased’ by Hagen.
Officer Chad and Danielle say Igor, left, has been a part of their family for more than five years
‘He’s been with us through our first home, our forever home, marriage, having a baby. Been with us through everything,’ Danielle Hagan, Chad’s wife, said
Hagen’s family believed the chief was being spiteful in refusing to allow the dog to leave with him. Igor, left is pictured alongside ‘his little human sister’
Police Chief Wayne Hudson came in for a huge amount of criticism over the past week
Chief Hudson had initially stated: ‘It (K9 Igor) is a tool and there is no financial amount that would be considered.’
The chief had earlier offered Hagen a deal: stay with Shaker Police for two more years and only then, upon Hagen’s leaving, could Igor could retire.
But Officer Hagan rejected the offer and proposed purchasing the K-9 instead.
‘The bond that Officer Hagan and K9 Igor have is beyond what anyone could ever imagine. K9 Igor has saved Officer Hagan’s life on multiple occasions. K9 Igor is not a ‘tool’. He is a beloved member of the Hagan family and Officer Hagan’s best friend. This is truly the worst heart break this family has ever been through. ‘
Last week the city insisted that the police department was simply sticking to the rules – but those rules have now been reworked to allow the officer to take Igor home for good.
Some police departments have been known to allow their handlers to purchase their partners for a nominal charge of $1 – but not Shaker Heights who now want $16,500 for Igor
Igor features in many of the family’s photographs over the years
When Officer Hagen gave his two-weeks notice on Thanksgiving he was instructed turn Igor, left, in at a local kennel all at the taxpayers’ expense
It would have been difficult to retrain Igor to bond with a new handler after Officer Hagen left
Officer Chad Hagen and K-9 Igor share a unique bond having worked alongside one another for five years at the City of Shaker Heights Police Department
‘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.’
Despite the chief’s earlier belief Igor could continue working for some time, Danielle said she believed the K-9 had slowed down and may realistically only work in law enforcement for another 18 months to two years.
She also cited other police forces including Cleveland Heights that have allowed their officers to buy their canine partners after just four years of service for a little as one dollar.
‘Bring him home, let him live out the rest of his happy years with his brother and his sister and fetching the ball in the backyard,’ said Brittany Santiago, a family friend, to News5Cleveland.
‘It’s hard. It’s been difficult. There’s a lot of emotions, a lot at stake,’ said Santiago.
Those signing the petition have left words of advice for the police chief.
An online petition has been set up which has garnered more than 3,600 signatures
Officer Hagen and Igor are seen on patrol in the city of Shaker Heights, Ohio
Igor has been placed in kennels while the police force decides what to do with him
‘Chief Wayne Hudson, you should be ashamed of yourself. Less than a year with this department and you bring this kind of disgrace. Do what is right for this loyal K9 officer, his handler and family and let him live out the rest of his years with the family that raised and loved him,’ wrote Leigh Ann Cook.
‘Igor has served his city, it’s time for him to retire and enjoy the family life after years of hard work! Outrageous they are using him in a game of power. Bring him home!!’ demanded Makenzie Olivares.
‘That’s just pathetic they have poor Igor sitting in a kennel when all the officer wants to do is take him home and even offered money for a new K9. Why wouldn’t you just let the officer take his partner home. Gotta love the ones making that decision. SAD,’ stated Cindy Lichty.
‘Enough of the abuse of power. This dog is not only Officer Hagan’s partner but a part of his family. Let Igor retire with the ONLY family he knows and loves,’ added Crystal Blasinsky.
Last week the police department responded to allegations of vindictiveness on behalf of the chief in a lengthy statement.
‘Rather than acting out of vindictiveness, Chief Hudson is following the requirements of the law, and acting in the best interests of the residents of Shaker Heights to protect the considerable investment the City has made in Igor, the police dog,’ the department explained.
‘While Chief Hudson is empathetic to Officer Hagan and his family’s feelings about Igor, Officer Hagan understood when he became a K-9 officer, as do all K-9 officers, that the dogs they work with are a highly trained integral part of the Shaker Heights Police Department that provide a service in protecting the community.
‘It is the responsibility and priority of the Chief and the City’s administration to protect the safety of the citizens of the City. Any attack on the judgment and character of the Chief on this issue is unwarranted and unjust.’