Happy Ending - Dakota is in Her New Home!
As of September 2009, Dakota has a new home! It has been a long and arduous journey for Dakota and all of us who have been rooting for her, but it seems there is a happy ending. The Jessamine County SAVE Center, where Dakota was held for months, posted the following notice on their website:
"After a lengthy stay at the SAVE Center, Dakota has moved on to start the next chapter of her life. She has been moved to her new home. We heard from them today and they are thrilled with Dakota. She is doing very well and getting ready to enjoy a chicken dinner. Dakota has already discovered the pond at her new home and enjoyed splashing around to cool off. Although Dakota was quite an interesting guest, we are happy to see her move on to a loving and permanent home. We want to thank all of Dakota's well-wishers."
And all of us at Green Paw would like to thank everyone at the Jessamine County SAVE Center for taking such good care of Dakota. Particular thanks to Jenise Smith, the Center's Director, who was kind enough to give us information about Dakota along the way, and who we know always had Dakota's best interests at heart.
And a very special thanks to Mary Ann T., who diligently kept GP updated and who, by all accounts, is certainly one of Dakota's greatest champions.
We doubt we will hear any further news about Dakota since her whereabouts are understandably confidential. But if we do, we will certainly pass them on to our readers. And finally we get to say, "We're so happy for you, Dakota, and from all your fans, we wish you a very happy life!"
August 28, 2009 -- Dakota Finally Has A New Home
Dakota, the now famous wolf-hybrid dog who carried a baby from his crib in July, is going to have a new home. Since the incident, Dakota, known for her mild manner and sweet personality, has been held at the Jessamine County SAVE Center, a local rescue facility. While her family has vacillated on whether to bring her back home, there have been numerous offers from around the country to adopt her. The Smith family just this week has decided to allow Dakota to go to a new home. Details of where Dakota will be going will not be disclosed to the public.
While there is a happy ending for Dakota, there remain over 80 dogs and 100 cats at the Jessamine County SAVE Center who need help. Pictured here is Percival, an adorable teddy bear like dog brought into the shelter in bad shape. He is blind but his condition may be treatable. Please consider helping the Center who has treated Dakota with kindness through this ordeal, while being besieged by the media and public. GP salutes them and thanks them. Please click here to visit their website
August 24, 2009 -- On Fate of Dakota, County Attorney Says "Anything is Possible"
Jessamine County Attorney Brian Goettle says the fate of Dakota, the wolf-hybrid dog being held at the county's shelter since July, is totally up to him and when asked if euthanizing Dakota or sending her to another home were possibilities, he said "anything is possible" as well as "all options are being considered." Goettle is working with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to decide Dakota's fate. Just recently, Dakota's owner, Michael Smith, announced he wanted to take her back home -- a move that many feel would be a mistake, including Jenise Smith, the director of the shelter where Dakota is being held.
August 15, 2009 -- Michael Smith Now Wants Dakota Back Home
In a surprising move, Michael Smith has announced he now wants Dakota, his wolf hybrid, back home. Following the July 20 incident when Dakota reportedly removed Smith's infant son from his crib and carried him outside, Smith has made varying statements about Dakota's fate -- first mentioning euthanasia and then saying he hoped she would be placed in a good home. The news that Dakota may be returned to Smith was announced on the same day that Smith and his wife, Chrissie, were cleared of any possible criminal charges. Since the incident, Dakota has remained at the Jessamine County SAVE Center, an animal shelter. GP spoke with director Jenise Smith a few times since Dakota was placed there, wherein Jenise repeatedly expressed that she felt the best home for Dakota (and her sibling, Nikita) would be an animal sanctuary.
August 4, 2009 -- Yesterday GP spoke with Jenise Smith for an update on Dakota. Jenise, Director of the Jessamine County SAVE Center where Dakota is being held, said she met with Dakota's owner and one of the Sheriffs. Right now, she said things are still in "limbo," primarily because the incident is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. She has recommended Dakota be placed in a sanctuary and, as previously reported on GP, there is talk that her sibling, Nikita, who is still at Dakota's former home, may be placed with her. As far as Alexander James Smith, the baby injured when Dakota reportedly took him from his crib, we are pleased to report his condition has greatly improved and he is now home.
July 29, 2009 -- Today, a member of the staff at the Jessamine County SAVE Center told GP that they are still waiting for Dakota to be officially surrended to them by the Smith family so that they can begin to find her a new home. They are also hoping that her sibling, who still remains with the Smith family, will be released to them so that the two can be placed together. Apparently Dakota was frightened and traumatized through the ordeal and at first was not eating at the shelter. However, she seems to be adjusting. We will continue to update this story as we get new information. In the meantime, please visit the CARE2 Petitionsite and sign the petition to SAVE DAKOTA. Visit the site at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/dont-let-dakota-be-destroyed.
July 22, 2009 -- 
For those of you following the story of Dakota, the Native American Indian dog, who reportedly took a newborn baby in Kentucky out of his crib and carried him into the woods, there is some good news. First of all, though initially in critical condition, the baby -- Alexander James Smith -- is fortunately doing much better and seems to be recovering from his injuries. As far as Dakota, she is being held at the Jessamine County SAVE Center, an animal shelter for dogs and cats. Jenise Smith, Director of the Center, was kind enough to speak with GP today.
She said "Dakota has been very nice with the staff as well as the cats here." According to Jenise, the Center has gotten many calls from all over the country asking about Dakota as well as the possibility of adopting her. However, at this time Dakota's future is "still up in the air." The good news is that Jenise spoke with a judge today and euthanasia is not an issue -- "but rather," she said, "where would be the best home for Dakota -- and that would more than likely be a sanctuary."
By all acounts, Dakota was not trying to harm the baby but doing what just came naturally as she had often taken things into the woods perhaps for safekeeping. According to the baby's father, Michael Smith, she did this with various objects, and he reportedly has said she is a "very mild-mannered dog."
Visit the Jessamine County SAVE Center website.
Read Letter from the Editor -- Dakota the Dog and Michael Vick: And Forgiveness for All?