Quentin, the dog who came out alive from the St. Louis gas chamber for dogs, has died, according to a tweet from his owner, Randy Grim.
Grim, founder of Stray Rescue, on Twitter said he was saying goodbye “to a legend, my best friend, my kid. Love you Quentin forever.”
Quentin was the only survivor among eight dogs that were being euthanized at the St. Louis city pound’s gas chamber one day in 2003.
An Aug. 10, 2003, story said the owners had dropped Quentin off at the city animal shelter, saying they were moving to an apartment that didn’t allow pets. Eight days later, “Workers tranquilized eight dogs, including Quentin, and placed them in an airtight box. They pumped in carbon monoxide. Fifteen minutes passed. Seven dogs succumbed. Quentin, for reasons that experts can only guess at, survived with no ill effects.”
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News of his survival spread nationally, and Grim said there were about 700 applicants to adopt Quentin. Ultimately Grim decided to keep him.
Quentin was going to be making public appearances around the country to raise awareness to the “plight of stray dogs,” Grim told the Post-Dispatch in 2003.
“It’s kind of cruel to adopt him out and then constantly pull him from his home for educational purposes,” Grim said.
Grim then started making public appearances with Quentin in support of humane treatment of animals.
Quentin, who stopped making public appearances in 2013, became the star of Grim’s book, “Miracle Dog: How Quentin Survived the Gas Chamber to Speak for Animals on Death Row.”
According to a Facebook post, Quentin had a stroke.
“I love him with all my heart and soul,” the post said. “...Saying bye to this miracle dog is something I’m not sure I will handle.”
Today, Grim tweeted that he realized he was keeping Quentin alive for himself.
“Change of plans. I realize I’m keeping him alive for me. It took a friend who knows him well to help come to terms with a final bye. At 4 today light a candle for my amazing kid.”
Change of plans. I realize I'm keeping him alive for me. It took a friend who knows him well to help come to terms with a final bye. At 4 today light a candle for my amazing kid. https://t.co/FUfvEm5TKU
— Randy Grim (@RandyGrim) October 21, 2018
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson tweeted to Grim: “I am very sorry Randy. You and Quentin changed everything in animal welfare in St. Louis and across the country.”
I am very sorry Randy. You and Quentin changed everything in animal welfare in St Louis and across the country.
— Mayor Lyda Krewson (@LydaKrewson) October 21, 2018
he passed on in a a special place pic.twitter.com/yXXsb9yCh8
— Randy Grim (@RandyGrim) October 21, 2018

