Just two days after adopting a German Shepherd mix named Music (Zola) from the Longmont Humane Society, Daniel Larson lost custody of the dog. On July 11, 2023, following a series of coordinated rescue attempts by concerned individuals, Music was taken from Daniel by WeenWeenMusic, also known as Ween, a member of the r/daniellarson subreddit.
Daniel’s adoption of Music had immediately sparked outrage and concern within the r/daniellarson subreddit and other online communities. Critics questioned the ethics and legality of allowing a homeless man with a history of mental illness and violent behavior to adopt a dog. Many feared for Music’s safety, citing Daniel’s inability to provide for his own needs and his history of violent outbursts.
Despite attempts by the Longmont Humane Society staff to slow down the adoption process, Daniel was able to leave with Music by falsely claiming he lived in an RV. The shelter later acknowledged their oversight and vowed to improve their background check procedures. In the meantime, members of the subreddit, including Goated Mines, coordinated efforts to locate and rescue Music. These efforts intensified as concerns grew about Daniel’s treatment of the dog, including inadequate feeding and hydration.
The situation culminated in a dramatic rescue on July 11, when Ween successfully took Music from Daniel under the pretense of ensuring her well-being. The dog was quickly returned to the Longmont Humane Society, and Daniel was left without his self-proclaimed “guard dog.”
Following the rescue, Daniel experienced a severe meltdown inside a Walmart, where he destroyed merchandise and attempted to hijack a bus before being apprehended by the police. He was subsequently arrested as part of the “7/11 Incident”
Sources: daniellarson.wiki, reddit, reddit