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Stolli the dog statue stolen from Sequim memorial and found in pieces

Published 1:30 am Monday, August 7, 2017

By Matthew Nash

Stolli the dog statue stolen from Sequim memorial and found in pieces
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Stolli the dog statue stolen from Sequim memorial and found in pieces
Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputies continue to investigate the theft of an estimated $500 dog statue from Sequim that memorialized a popular dog, Stolli, who greeted locals as they traveled by the corner of Hendrickson and Priest roads. (Cassidy family)
Alabama and her dad, Kevin Cassidy, sit last October with their dog Remington on a bench that memorializes family dog Stolli, who died Aug. 31, 2016. The statue to the left was reported stolen Thursday and recovered broken later in the day. Community members look to fund a replacement for the Cassidy family. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
A statue for Stolli the dog was stolen and broken sometime between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Stolli was known for resting and greeting people along the Discovery Trail before her death Aug. 31, 2016. (Cassidy family)

SEQUIM — A popular icon once again left the corner of Hendrickson and Priest roads.

The Cassidy Family, owners of A2Z Fencing at 1162 W. Hendrickson Road, reported to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office that a statue memorializing their dog Stolli was taken sometime last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Teresa Cassidy said they were on vacation and returned to see the statue there Wednesday morning but found it was missing the next morning.

Stolli, a 12½-year old dog who died Aug. 31 last year, was well known by Olympic Discovery Trail users — often lying across the trail regardless of foot and bicycle traffic.

The Cassidy family adopted Stolli in May 2004 when she was 8 weeks old. Teresa Cassidy said Stolli was diagnosed with arthritis and the beginnings of kidney failure about six years ago. Stolli spent many days lying in the sun in front of the Cassidys’ home and business at Hendrickson Road and Priest Road, awaiting her friends.

Support was so strong for the dog that after her death community members placed flowers, cards, dog toys and more near her favorite spot.

The Cassidy family put out a bench with a plaque and a dog statue to remember Stolli on Oct. 7 last year.

The Cassidys also posted online about the theft Thursday. That posting led to a meeting between Stolli’s owner Kevin Cassidy and Adam Lux, a man later identified by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office as a person of interest.

Kevin Cassidy said he met with a friend and Lux at about 2 p.m. Thursday at a gas station on Taylor Cutoff Road.

Clallam County Sheriff Deputy Mark Leiter reports that Lux gave Cassidy the statue in a cardboard box, and when Cassidy returned home it was discovered in pieces.

Lux told Cassidy earlier he found the box while riding his bicycle, Leiter reports.

Cassidy said the statue cost $500 and he will replace it eventually. However, community members are looking to form a fund at a Sequim bank to support replacing the statue in the near future too.

Leiter seeks any information on how to contact Lux by calling the Sheriff’s Office’s Dispatch at 360-417-2459 or by leaving an anonymous tip at https://websrv7.clallam.net/cnmaster-c/nwformeml.php.

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Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

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