Like an eighth -year senior, the famous little white dog just can’t seem to get enough of Mississippi State University.
After being captured on campus, taken to the Starkville Animal Shelter and adopted, the dog, often called “Casper,” has escaped from his new home and returned again to the Drill Field. However, officials warn that he might not be safe to catch.
After his capture, Casper stayed at the Animal Shelter in Starkville for two weeks until he was adopted. The new owner had Casper in a harness, but the dog managed to escape.
“It was a thick harness. I do not know how he got out of it,” said Glen Simmons, a staff member at the animal shelter. “Something has happened to that dog in its life. It has been traumatized.”
Joey Breland, another shelter worker, said Casper was difficult to keep contained.
“The dog is really tricky. He is so smart and such a sleuth,” Breland said.
Some people seem to enjoy seeing the dog running around campus again, but there are some that are not so happy. Diane Wall, president of the Oktibbeha Humane Society, warns that interactions with the dog should be avoided.
“He is very shy and there is potential that he might snap at people trying to catch him,” Wall said. “Fear-biting could be developing in him.”
Wall also said that students should not feed Casper. Since he has been back on campus, people have been feeding him, which may hinder his recapture.
“If he is full, he will be less likely to go into a cage with food and be taken to a safe animal shelter,” Wall said.
Catching this dog is not just a safety issue; he also needs medical attention. He has a condition known as kennel cough, Wall said.
“It will not go away by itself. He needs an antibiotic and vaccination,” said Nicky Lewis, another staff member at the animal shelter.
Most agree that Casper should be taken to the shelter, but Starkville Animal Control cannot capture animals on campus, and the MSU police do not capture animals, so there is no official responsible for catching animals.
“We do not handle dogs, but if he is an imminent danger to students or faculty and staff we will intervene,” said Eddie Scales, crime prevention coordinator for MSU Police.
Personnel at the animal shelter do not recommend that students try to catch Casper, but they are concerned about his safety. Wall said that it would be in the best interest of the dog for people not to bother him.
“He is not socialized, so students should be careful around him. He needs to be humanely captured because it is beginning to be a harmful situation for students,” said Delisa Simmons, also of the animal shelter.
Humane Society volunteer Cori Province, who originally caught Casper, tried to catch him again Monday night.
“I made my own catch pole Monday night with a leash on a broomstick. I almost caught him, but I didn’t pull it tight fast enough. He was always a little step ahead of me,” Province said. Wall said that efforts to catch Casper will continue, and she hopes he will be caught and returned to the animal shelter soon, where he will be safe.
When and if Casper is caught, he will be taken back to the Starkville Animal Shelter and put up for adoption again. Province said the Humane Society has a “no-kill policy.” If Casper is caught, he will be given a home. No situation would cause him to be put to sleep.
“Casper is going to have to have a particular placement (for adoption),” Wall said. “It is very rare that any adopted dog would run away.”
The animal shelter can be contacted at 338-9093 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Callers can also leave messages during non-business hours.