Bring K9 Igor Home
Donation protected
As a family friend of the Hagan family. I am posting on my behalf to fight for this family to keep their beloved dog, K9 Igor. After 5 ½ with Officer Hagan, 6.5 year old K9 Igor deserves to retire and live the rest of his life with his only known family.
Please note, Officer Hagan and his family are agreeing to pay $10,000 of their own funds to purchase K9 Igor. Any additional money raised will be offered to Shaker Heights Police Department to purchase Igor or provide the funds to purchase a new K9. If this money is not used for its intended purpose it will be donated to an animal organization of Officer Hagan’s choice.
Officer Hagan and K9 Igor have been together since September 2018 at the Shaker Heights Police Department. Just a few months ago, Officer Hagan began applying for other local Police Departments. Once Officer Hagan applied, he immediately notified his command staff in a meeting, out of respect for the department. Chief Wayne Hudson, (who recently moved from Nebraska and has been the chief of SHPD for less than 1 year) agreed with Officer Hagan in making a career change for the sake of his family and family needs. Chief Hudson stated that Officer Hagan's points were fair but wanted to place K9 Igor with a new handler. This came as a shock to Officer Hagan because he only applied to other departments and did not have any other job offers at this time. Chief Hudson then followed up with Officer Hagan by saying “give me two more years.” alluding to forcing Officer Hagan to remain at the department to rightfully retire his K9 partner.
Due to circumstances with K9 Igor approaching 7 years old, nearing the end of his career, Officer Hagan offered Chief Hudson $10,000 of his own funds, for the purchase of K9 Igor. 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. Chief Hudson stated, "it (K9 Igor) is a tool and there is no financial amount that would be considered."
Chief Hudson disseminated a notice for a K9 position (prior to Officer Hagan being offered any other job) and no individuals within the department applied for the position. Chief Hudson advised Officer Hagan that he would make the decision of retiring K9 Igor and letting Officer Hagan buy him, when and if he put in his resignation. Eventually, Officer Hagan was offered a position with another Police Department and he then put in his formal 2 weeks' notice. Officer Hagan was told on the evening of Thanksgiving, by Chief Hudson, that he was to return K9 Igor to the department and to work with his Commander on the arrangements upon doing so.
On Wednesday, November 29th, 2023, Officer Hagan was ordered to take K9 Igor to Beacon Hill facility and drop him off. K9 Igor is currently in this facility, away from his family, though Officer Hagan's last day with the department is Sunday December 10th. It is truly disheartening that the Shaker Heights Police Department robbed Officer Hagan of his final days with K9 Igor.
K9 Igor has spent 5 ½ years with Officer Hagan and his family. K9 Igor has been with this family through hardships and big life changes, including buying their first home together, marriage, finding their forever home and most importantly welcoming his little human sister into the world in July of 2022.
The Hagan family is the only family K9 Igor has ever known and instead of being with Officer Hagan and his family for the remaining week and a half, he has been living in a boarding facility, laying on a 4x4 concrete pad because of the retaliation by Chief Hudson. 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.
Not only is this an obvious situation of retaliation, it has most importantly led to a very hostile work environment for those in the Shaker Heights Police Department. Officers were interested in a K9 position but ultimately not interested in taking a dog from another member of the police department who should be retired to live out his life with his family. With the information given and still no clear plan on what is to happen with K9 Igor, we hope the extra money raised will give an extra push to bring him home.
I truly want to thank you all in advance, Danielle and Chad hold a very special place in my heart, we have been best friends for 10+ years. They are the most caring, loving people that I know and will do anything for anyone. We are all praying to bring Igor home. Thank you ♥️
Please sign the petition for K9 Igor
Organizer
Moranda Watkins
Organizer
Lakewood, OH