Summary
A shelter dog named Dawson escaped from a kennel in a West Virginia animal shelter and caught national attention. Security footage showed Dawson cleverly opening his kennel door and then unlocking the facility's main door. After a week-long search, Dawson was safely found and returned.
Key Facts
- Dawson, a brindle-colored dog, escaped from the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter in West Virginia.
- Security cameras captured Dawson unlatching his kennel and unlocking the front door with his snout and teeth.
- The shelter shared the footage on Instagram, gaining over 4.4 million views.
- The escape led to a week-long search before Dawson was found safe.
- The incident increased awareness of the shelter, leading to more donations and a special fund in Dawson's honor.
- The Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter handled 1,681 stray dogs a day in 2025.
- Social media updates were provided to help find Dawson during the search.
