A Vancouver man suspected of dragging his dog behind his pickup, killing the animal, made a first appearance Thursday in Clark County Superior Court.
David Kadow, 52, appeared on suspicion of first-degree animal cruelty in connection with the Sunday incident.
Kadow’s wife, Wendi, attended the hearing and said afterward that her husband would never intentionally hurt their dog, Hailey, a 10-year-old pit bull.
“That dog was his life,” she said. “We haven’t even been able to mourn Hailey’s death.”
Vancouver police were called to the 3300 block of East 21st Street on Sunday afternoon after receiving a report that a dog had been dragged by a truck to a home there, then was taken inside.
Jacob and Rikki Harvilo were inside their home in the 2800 block of East 28th Street when they heard a dog loudly yelping and crying. When they looked, they saw a dog hanging by a leash from the side of a truck. The dog was bouncing off the side of the truck and pavement, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.
Jacob Harvilo ran after the truck, yelling for the driver, later identified as David Kadow, to stop. Rikki Harvilo grabbed her car keys and drove after Kadow, honking her horn in an effort to get him to stop. Kadow continued driving, however, the affidavit said.
Rikki Harvilo said she saw Kadow arrive at his residence and carry the dead dog inside, where he laid her down on the living room floor, court records state.
Other witnesses said they saw Kadow driving his truck and dragging the dog. When Kadow turned from East 28th Street onto Norris Road, the dog was swept under the rear passenger tire of the truck, killing the animal, according to court documents.
Police said Kadow was not cooperative during their investigation and refused to answer questions. Officers got a search warrant and searched the home after they were unable to get inside to check on the dog. Police said they found a dead female dog inside. Clark County Animal Control took the dog in order to conduct a necropsy.
In the affidavit, Vancouver police Officer Jordan Rasmussen wrote that “had David stopped before he turned, the dog would have likely survived its injuries on her feet.”
Kadow was arrested Wednesday afternoon.
During his court appearance, Judge Gregory Gonzales appointed Vancouver defense attorney Steve Rucker to represent Kadow and set bail at $75,000.
Kadow will be arraigned June 9.
Wendi Kadow told media Thursday that she doesn’t know what happened Sunday afternoon. She was at home.
She said her husband returned home, hysterical, and was carrying Hailey in his arms.
“She was already gone,” Wendi Kadow said. “There’s nothing that could be done.”
Wendi Kadow said that Hailey usually traveled inside the truck. Her husband had never been aggressive toward the dog before, she said.
They got Hailey as a puppy, she said, and treated her like she was their baby.
The entire situation is a misunderstanding, she said, adding that the people who are accusing her husband of intentionally hurting Hailey are “full of it.”
