Overview
- Dawson, a mixed-breed rescue, was filmed opening a latched kennel and turning the front-door lock with his mouth to exit the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter.
- The shelter discovered the breakout on Jan. 5 and says Dawson had been in its care for less than a day after being surrendered.
- Staff are coordinating with animal control on an ongoing search complicated by a large, rural service area and limited resources.
- The video has drawn millions of views and heavy commentary, and the shelter rejects claims it was staged or AI-generated.
- Officials ask the public to report sightings at 304-696-5551 or 304-544-5891, note a fundraiser tied to the search, and say Dawson will go to a seasoned owner if found, highlighting capacity strains even after 184 recent adoptions.