Dagwood

 

 

At the Winn Dixie site, many of the dogs in their crates were sleeping, getting the much-needed rest that they had not known since before Hurricane Katrina… but not Dagwood. Dagwood was a strikingly beautiful blonde pit bull that was far more concerned with what the people around him were doing instead of taking a much-needed nap. Dagwood wanted so badly to be with the people that the Winn Dixie folks asked the HSLA volunteers to take Dagwood back to the Tylertown so that he could get the attention that he so desperately craved.

 Despite him having a shady and comfortable kennel, Dagwood was found more times outside of his kennel than inside. Dagwood was an escape artist at Tylertown, not because he disliked his kennel, but because he so desperately wanted to be in the company of the volunteers. Because he tried so many times, and often succeeded, in opening up the kennel door with his muzzle, he ended up with many cuts on his nose. Because of Dagwood’s intense desire to be where ever the people were, volunteers knew that Dagwood must have had a family and home before the Hurricane, and that somewhere, that family, which must have paid lots of attention to Dagwood, was out there searching to find their lost dog.

 What happened to Dagwood after he was taken from Tylertown for Kentucky?

 Sandi Coy handed Dagwood over to an associate, and in March 2006, when HSLA returned to re-rescue the dogs, Ms Coy claimed that Dagwood had been euthanized for human aggression, but she offered no proof of her claim. It was later discovered that Ms Coy wasn’t entirely truthful about what happened to Dagwood. HSLA volunteers were able to confirm the details of his death from an animal control officer in a neighboring county. It was later proven that just after Christmas, Ms Coy’s associate was sited by animal control for Dagwood running at-large. While running the streets, it was reported that Dagwood killed a German Shepard Dog. After receiving the citation, the associate took Dagwood to the ACO, where Dagwood was euthanized on January 4, 2006 for dog aggression. While at Tylertown, Dagwood was an overly friendly dog, surrounded by other dogs in every kennel connected to his own, and never showed any signs of dog aggression. It is unknown at this time how Dagwood could leave Tylertown as an overly friendly, non-aggressive dog and end up with the capability of killing a GSD within just two months time. The ACO has stated that had he known that this dog was a Katrina rescue dog that had never been given the chance to be located by its owner, he would have never put the dog to sleep. Had he been told that the dog originated from Tylertown, he would have notified HSLA so that Dagwood could be safely returned and cared for in the humane and loving way that Ms Coy had promised for Dagwood, but never provided.

 Where is Dagwood's family?

 Dagwood was never given the chance for his owners to find him after Hurricane Katrina. If you or some family you know believes that Dagwood may have been their lost Katrina dog, please contact Johnna Harris at johnna.harris@gmail.com 

Dagwood’s Rescue Intake Information: 

       Adult, male, blond with red nose, pit bull, 1-2 years old

       Winn Dixie Intake Date: 10/9/05 (ID # HK1309)

       Picked up from Winn Dixie and brought to HSLA site

       HSLA Intake Date: 10/9/05 (ID # 256)

       Found at 1219 Elysian Fields Road; cross street – Urghuart Street

       Microchip: Avid # 091561048 (implanted on 10/12/05)

       Current whereabouts: deceased 

 

 

You will never be forgotten, Dagwood.