Retired Ailing Police Dog Brought To Shelter To Be Euthanized Now On Upswing, Needs New Home

[joeybee12]

K-9 the canine was dropped off at a Kansas animal shelter this summer, by an owner who said the elderly German shepherd was a retired police dog with cancer who should be euthanized.

And it's hard to imagine, but this bad turn appears to have started the dog on the path toward a happy home.

The former owner's health claims were quickly found to be wrong, when a veterinarian diagnosed K-9 as having thyroid and joint problems, not cancer, and put him on the appropriate medicine. Physically, the pup has been "doing pretty well" ever since, says Jim Percival, who works with the volunteer-run Coffeyville Friends of Animals Shelter and Adoption Center.

But after a couple of months, K-9 went onto the shelter's "urgent" adoption list -- which more or less meant, in the grim language of animal rescue, he was running out of time to make it out alive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/20/retired-k-9-dumped-at-shelter_n_5851216.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

[Coventina]

1. I hate human beings, sometimes. I really do.

This fellow put his life on the line his whole life, just to please his handlers.

He wasn't paid, he didn't have informed consent to the risks he was taking.

He did it because it pleased his humans.

And we can't even find it in our hearts to care for him until his natural (all too soon) death?

I hate humans.

[hobbit709]

2. you and me both.

[joeybee12]

5. That's what got me, too...

You'd think there'd be some sort of retirement money set aside for these animals instead of just dumping them on anyone when they get old...from the article, whoever got K9 after he retired apparently neglected him.

[Coventina]

6. I was under the (apparently mistaken) impression that the dogs stayed with their handlers

after retirement because they were like members of the family.

I am very happy that so many opened their hearts and homes to this poor guy, but the story is still deeply disappointing.

You're right, there should be a "retirement program" for all public service dogs that would not allow this sort of thing to happen.

[joeybee12]

7. Same here...maybe we assumed that beacuse you hear about

a lot of cops/soldiers wanting to adopt the dogs when they both retire...enough so we thought there was some sort of program in place.

[whistler162]

8. or we believe the story. Wouldn't there be a id chip

or tattoo to identify the dog if they had been working with the Police?

[joeybee12]

10. Most definitely...nt

[magical thyme]

3. he's a lucky one. thanks to his history and story, he made huff post and

the shelter was inundated with adoption offers.

It's the dogs that don't have a media story and aren't inundated with offers...

[shenmue]

4. Woof!

Hoping he gets a new place quickly.

[Louisiana1976]

9. I am, too. I agree with everyone who says dogs that have served a public service should be

treated extra special in retirement.

[jen63]

11. I know the 9/11/2001

service dogs were kept track of and treated very well. I only heard one story about an owner not being able to keep the dog. The other's, I agree, should have a "retirement" fund, just like their officers. They don't have a choice regarding their jobs.