Karson, the Wilmington police dog missing since before Christmas, was found Sunday afternoon after 61 days on the loose.
KEY POINTS:
- K9 Karson was caught Sunday afternoon
- A Mason couple spotted the dog in a field near I-71
- The police dog had been missing since Dec. 23
- Karson lost 14 pounds, now weighs 55
- Gov. John Kasich will meet the K9 Tuesday
Update@7:55 p.m.:
The Wilmington police dog found Sunday after being missing for about two months is recovering, and is expected to return to duty soon, officials said Monday.
Karson escaped from the Clinton Animal Care Center on West Locust Street on Dec. 23 while he was being bathed, Wilmington Police Chief Duane Weyand said, noting that the dog’s handler, Officer Jerry Popp, was on vacation at the time.
The department launched a search for the dog immediately after he went missing, hiring Jordina Ghiggeri of Lost Pet Professionals, which specializes in searching for pets. The search for Karson cost at least $20,000, Weyand said during a press conference.
Karson endured freezing temperatures and snow storms while he was missing. The Belgian Mallinois, which weighed 55 pounds before he escaped, lost 14 pounds. His survival instincts enabled him to hunt and eat whatever he could find, officials said.
“There are animals out there he could scavenge,” said Jordina Ghiggeri of Lost Pet Professionals, which helps find pets. “You have a deer that got hit by a car, he’s going to find that.”
Police believe the K-9 traveled more than 100 miles during the 61 days he was missing. Karson stayed within a 20 mile radius on bike trails, Ghigerri said. Officers say the loyal K-9 spent much of his time searching for Popp.
“We had numerous sightings that put Karson within a mile of officer Popp’s house,” said Weyand. “He’d go away from that area then he would come back three to five days later.”
Ghiggeri said she used feeding stations and traps to lure Karson in and reunite him with his owner, but it was difficult to find him because his survival instincts cause him to avoid human contact.
“He was in a state of panic for sure when we found him,” said Ghiggeri. “There was a lot going on.”
Rick and Pam Jones of Mason called police when they spotted the dog near Interstate 71 around 1:15 Sunday afternoon. Police eventually caught up to Karson near Sabina and Starbuck roads, according to Weyand.
Karson was obeying commands shortly after being reunited with his owner, Weyand said. He recognized his handler immediately and started behaving the same way he did before he went missing.
“When a dog has been out of service like that, it’s almost instinctive that he will revert right back to how he has been trained,” Weyand said, adding that Karson will return to service after he goes through the state certification process.
Update@11:12 a.m.:
Karson
The Wilmington Police Department has scheduled a press conference at 2:30 this afternoon to discuss Karson’s homecoming, officials announced in a press release.
In addition, there will be a coming home party for him at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Bible Baptist Church in Wilmington.
First take:
The recovery of Karson, the Wilmington Police Department K9, prompted relief from his handler and others involved in the search, as well as a social media celebration that spread from the Miami Valley to as far away as Idaho, New Jersey and Missouri.
The Belgian malinois was found at 1:15 p.m. Sunday by Pam and Rick Jones of Mason. They were searching for the dog in a field just east of Interstate 71, near Port William in eastern Clinton County.
“When we first saw him we weren’t sure,” Rick Jones said. “Then that emotion comes over you that just maybe, it’s him.”
Shortly after being spotted by the Joneses, Karson was reunited with his handler, Wilmington police officer Jerry Popp.
“I have him in the truck next to me. He’s alive and healthy. It’s all over finally,” Popp posted at about 1:30 p.m on a Facebook page set up to aid in Karson’s rescue.
“What an amazing reunion,” said Pam Jones, a photographer who captured the moment. “Everybody’s diligence is what brought that dog home. He became everyone’s dog.”
Karson was checked out by a veterinarian at the Country View Pet Hospital near Wilmington but was not present for a news conference held at the police station regarding the dog’s return.
Karson was said to be mildly dehydrated and had redness on his paw pads, but otherwise was in good health. He weighed 55 pounds Sunday — 14 pounds less than when he went missing.
“He’s not just a dog, he’s a member of our police family,” said Wilmington police chief Duane Weyand, adding that Gov. John Kasich plans to meet Karson when the governor is in town Tuesday to give his State of the State address.
The K9 escaped Dec. 23, 2014, from a kennel where he was staying while Popp was on vacation.
A $2,000 reward for Karson was posted in late December. There were numerous reports of sightings, particularly in Greene County, and several over the weekend in Clinton County, before he was surrounded Sunday afternoon by officers, including Popp and Wilmington Sgt. Ron Fithen.
“Karson’s home. I’ve got him,” Fithen said in a 911 recording released by Wilmington police.
Popp told the Wilmington News Journal that he and Fithen maneuvered into the field with a 4-wheel drive police pickup truck, but Karson was “pretty skittish” and took off.
Popp said they kept driving around Karson to wear him out. Then Fithen got out and started talking to Karson and “when Karson saw me, he jumped in back of the police truck,” Popp said.
In addition to the Facebook page, the search featured a tracking team from New Jersey and volunteers posting Karson’s picture around the area.
Sunday was the last day of the organized search.
By the end of the day, more than 24,000 people were following on the Facebook page.
“So happy he is finally back where he belongs :),” posted Fay Kiger of Lorain, Ohio.
In addition to Dayton-area postings, people from across the country expressed relief and joy.
“PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!! I am sooooo Happy!!!” Lisa Deccio Snyder posted from Sun Valley, Idaho.
