The Rescue and Update on the sweet Dog Who Captured Arizona’s Heart

If you've ever met Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, it's easy to imagine how this now-viral story took shape.

Sheriff Dannels has one of the busiest schedules of anyone I know, yet he still took time to help this vulnerable "citizen". And this little guy can't even vote! This was a lucky day for one Arizona canine.

Helping the Vulnerable

I get only a glimpse of the Sheriff's schedule, but I know it's extremely busy. Yet, he took time to handle something that might seem small to many of us.

In the last few weeks, Sheriff testified before Congress on border issues, appeared on national news networks, held press conferences, and traveled to the state capital in Phoenix for a community event.

He's appeared on KWCD's weekly Friday morning show, First Watch with Sheriff Mark Dannels, and called football games around Cochise County under the Friday night lights, which also air on KWCD.

Oh, and did I mention he saved a dog?

Rescuing the Most Vulnerable

From the Cochise County Sheriff's Facebook Page:

It all began on the morning of August 26th. The sheriff and his wife Nickie were in Benson on Interstate 10 when they noticed a small, elderly dog walking down the Skyline Road exit ramp.

They stopped and picked up the little canine. Judging by his cloudy eyes, it was obvious he had vision problems. Making sure the shaken dog was comfortable in their vehicle, Sheriff Dannels and Nickie brought him back to Sierra Vista.

They handed the little dog over to a Cochise County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Officer where animal control discovered he'd been chipped. The information led them to an owner registered in Maricopa County. Animal Control officers reached out several times but never received a response.

Locating the Owner

The owner refused to return the CCSO's calls, but that didn't stop Sheriff Dannels from helping the pooch. The first week of September, Sheriff Dannels was headed to Phoenix to attend a community event. Since he was in the area, he followed up and located the dog's owner.

The owner wasn't forthcoming with the truth, but it eventually became apparent the owner had probably abandoned the dog in Cochise County. It's now become a matter for the courts.

Outpouring of Support

This little dog has captured our hearts throughout the state of Arizona. The latest social media update says,

This resilient four-legged fluff is named Henry and a shelter in Maricopa County has him listed as a chihuahua/min-pin mix who is estimated at 10 years of age. We have reason to believe that Henry just aged like a fine wine and could actually be 12-13- years old.

The CCSO posts have gone viral! He was given a check-up at Coronado Veterinary Clinic.

Donations to cover his medical costs came flooding in. They've had many offers to foster or adopt little Henry. The ongoing legal issues mean Henry has to stay in foster care for a while longer. Animal Control found a temporary foster home to care for him while the case is handled in court.

 A Friend Indeed

The Friends of the Sierra Vista Animal Shelter updated us on Henry. In a recent Facebook post, they gave a shout-out to Coronado Vet and Sheriff Dannels, but also to the community.

Big shout out to Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for the outstanding care and concern and to all those offering to donate on this little guys behalf. It takes a community that cares! Let’s keep it up.

Little acts of kindness can make a big difference in our community. It certainly did for Henry!