Across town, her dog, Rolo, sat in a shelter waiting to be euthanized.

An Arvada judge has said Rolo should be put down for biting a neighbor. Hagan says her German Shepherd has no history of violence and only scratched the woman.

Hagan is protesting night and day at the Jefferson County complex while she awaits the results of an appeal of the original decision.

She began her stakeout Monday morning and promised she will be there until a decision is made. She's taken time off from work so she doesn't have to leave her spot.

Hagan's dog has been held at the Table Mountain Animal Shelter for nearly four months.

"A month ago, he was really skinny and bony," she said. "He was starting to go crazy."

Hagan visits the dog daily but is still worried about the toll being taken by his time in the shelter.

Shelter Manager Angela Davis says, despite their best efforts, the confined environment can have lasting health and behavioral effects on a dog.

"It's never an ideal situation," Davis said. "It's an environment that has a lot of noise, has a lot of traffic."

Davis says it's not unusual for dogs to be put on a "court hold" for as long as 18 months. It's the only way to completely quarantine a dog that may be dangerous.

Any day now, a district court appeals judge will rule if Rolo is one of those dangerous dogs. A rejected appeal will mean he will be put down.

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