San Antonio, Texas – A K9 with Northside ISD Police was euthanized shortly after a life-saving surgery to remove an intestinal blockage was declined. The seven-year-old dog, Donna, was taken to an emergency veterinarian on August 10 for vomiting and diarrhea.
As reported by KSAT News, the veterinarian advised that Donna needed a $7,000 surgery to remove the blockage. According to the report, the department was advised that Donna should have been able to return to her narcotics duties, with no future health issues, if the surgery was performed – but it was declined.
Shortly thereafter, the dog originally purchased by the department for $10,000 was dead – euthanized because the department opted to decline the surgery which would have saved her life.
A statement from police chief Richard Paloma reads in part:
“Our decision was based on the totality of the circumstances and, above all, on what we believed was most compassionate for Donna. We did not want to put her through an invasive procedure and difficult recovery when the outcome remained uncertain.
We are deeply grateful for K9 Donna’s faithful service and for the special bond she shared with her handler and our department. Saying goodbye was incredibly difficult, but Donna’s welfare and dignity remained at the heart of our decision. Her service and loyalty will always be remembered.”
Rest in peace Donna.
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53 Comments
This REALLY SUCKS, that this dog’s life was ended because of greed on the parts of both the police department and the veterinarian. I am sure it should not have cost $7,000 to do the surgery on the dog, but even that exorbitant amount of money is not much compared to the number of people who live in Texas (30.5 million). I realize Texas doesn’t have any taxes, but if a fundraising plea had been put out for the dog’s surgery, and if every resident of Texas had contributed only one cent, they would have had more than enough to cover it! The department’s failure to provide reasonable treatment for their dog whose life could have been saved makes me wonder whether they also send their human officers home to die when they get injured on the job? Also, in my opinion, killing/“euthanizing” any animal whose life could be saved instead should no longer be an option.
I hope that police chief has an intestinal blockage and either doesn’t make it to surgery or dies on the operating table. And I hope the son of a bitch SUFFERS. Cheap miserable bastard.
shameful…this dog was an OFFICER of the law…. that money could have been raised in no time…makes me sick…. it was ALL ABOUT THE MONEY…. vet was charging way to much…. shame on all ….
Absolutely. They didn’t want to spend the money on her. The Vet saw nothing but greed. None of us believe that the surgery would have cost $7000. Disgusting, every one of them. Bet they will spend thousands on another dog.
Absolutely. They didn’t want to spend the money on her. The Vet saw nothing but greed. None of us believe that the surgery would have cost $7000. Disgusting, every one of them. Bet they will spend thousands on another dog.
Tell the police chief his statement is the biggest bunch of bull crap! The only other time I’ve read total BC like that is the politics right now. This brave, trained Officer put her life on the line Every day for you and others. She didn’t stop to decide that it might cost her life. She trusted her fellow officers. She trusted You, and It did Cost Her her life. You threw her life away, like trash. There are Many ways to have paid for the surgery. Were you so cheap, to think she was worthless? For shame. And I’m surprised at the vet. A healthy trained animal that You could’ve saved. Shame on you too.
Seems like both the police department and the vet made some bad decisions. The vet was wanting to charge an extreme amount of money for the surgery and the police department was too cheap to pay for it. This despite the fact that the poor dog probably saved their lives more than once. You could understand if the dog were older and might have had a hard time dealing with the surgery and recovery; but at 7 years; that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I am astounded and livid beyond belief that her lifesaving surgery was DECLINED. WTF?????? Donna put her life on the line for humans and when she needed them the most, they deserted her and sentenced her to death. Texas is a hellhole for animals. This is absolutely appalling. I hope those responsible get a swift and unpleasant visit from karma.
THIS CASE IS ABSOLUTELY APALLING, AND VERY DISTURBING!!!
THIS POOR BEAUTIFUL, FAITHFUL SERVICE DOG GAVE HER ‘ALL’ AND SHE WAS TREATED LIKE A PIECE OF ‘POOP’
YOU NEVER GAVE HER A CHANCE?????
FUNDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED FOR HER TO HAVE THIS OPERATION BUT YOU DIDN’T GIVE IT A SINGLE THOUGHT!!!
SHE WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD !!!! HELLO!!! SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND YOU JUST KILLED HER & TOOK HER L IFE AWAY WITHOUT GIVING HER A ‘ SECOND THOUGHT’
DISGUSTING!!
THIS CASE IS ABSOLUTELY APALLING, AND VERY DISTURBING!!!
THIS POOR BEAUTIFUL, FAITHFUL SERVICE DOG GAVE HER ‘ALL’ AND SHE WAS TREATED LIKE A PIECE OF ‘POOP’
YOU NEVER GAVE HER A CHANCE?????
FUNDS WOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED FOR HER TO HAVE THIS OPERATION BUT YOU DIDN’T GIVE IT A SINGLE THOUGHT!!!
SHE WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD !!!! HELLO!!! SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL AND YOU JUST KILLED HER & TOOK HER L IFE AWAY WITHOUT GIVING HER A ‘ SECOND THOUGHT’
DISGUSTING!!
Unbelievable! K9’s are officers and should be treated the same as a human officer or better! These dogs put their lives on the line everyday, and you treat them like mere disposable objects. Couldn’t they have at least asked for donations to save this precious dog’s life? I’m tired of hearing about officers neglecting and abusing their K9’s resulting in death and now this happens. No wonder I love animals and dislike most humans. I hope this comes back to haunt this pos department.
Daidre,
I couldn’t agree more with what you said here❗️😒
My sentiments exactly❗️☝🏼
Well said, Daidre. K-9 Donna deserved respect for her service, not being cast off for $7000. I would guess that crowd funding would have raised in excess of that sum for her, being a priceless K-9 who saved many human lives.
I agree 100% just because they’re not too legged humans. They are four legged police dogs that are trained to help the handler and the rest of the department and they put yourself on the line every day when Police send them in to danger and to stop them from having surgery would they do the same thing with a human rest in peace little boy this country sucks, especially when it comes to the treatment of animals and I hope, Karma to that Police Dept every freaking one of them that made the decision not to help you.!!!😡😡
Unbelievable! K9’s are officers and should be treated the same as a human officer or better! These dogs put their lives on the line everyday, and you treat them like mere disposable objects. Couldn’t they have at least asked for donations to save this precious dog’s life? I’m tired of hearing about officers neglecting and abusing their K9’s resulting in death and now this happens. No wonder I love animals and dislike most humans. I hope this comes back to haunt this pos department.
My son’s dobe had this surgery, cost $800, a few years later my dobe has the same surgery for $1200. Bothe were home same day, ate some special food for a few days and were fine. This dog deserved to have her surgery. Shame on the vet for charging so much and why was a $10000 dog not insured?
These forced into service animals are nothing but tools to the people who buy them. It was more cost effective to fork over another 10k rather than 7 taking a chance that the dog would have complications and be unable to work especially factoring in her age and future health considerations. They think in terms of actuary devoid of humanity despite these hires being living, sentient beings they demand risk their lives so their handlers do not have to do so. Agencies should be required to pay for care based on veterinary expertise and set up retirement funds. Until then they are just means to an end.
WTF ISMYOUR PROBLEM, ASSHOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HOPE TO GOD ONE DAYBL ITLL BE YOUR WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND THEN WE’LL SEE HOW THE TABLES TURN, YOU MORHER FUCKERS!! I HATE YOU!! HELL TO YOU. DOG HAD NO SAY. SO YOU FCKING TOOK ITS LIFE!! EYE FOR AN EYE!! GETCRUD OF THOSE SOB’S. SCUMBAGS!!
I subnitted a Iong comment once again, regarding the facts about the abuse, torture, negIect of k9s, aII of it standard procedure, but it is not here.
So, I wiII just say,WAKE UP!
The dogs are onIy vaIued as equipment, the deoarnents don’t use any of their own budgeted money to pay for them, and so they are easiIy repIaced (using the pubIic’s money)
You are absolutely right, Sue!! Whoever made that call, I hope the same happens to them!
You NEVER deserved this beautiful girl. All the work she did for your department was forgotten due to a medical bill….it was all about the money. I can only hope that your loved ones make the same decision you chose when your life is in jeopardy. Rest in peace, Donna. You are free from these POS’s.
You NEVER deserved this beautiful girl. All the work she did for your department was forgotten due to a medical bill….it was all about the money. I can only hope that your loved ones make the same decision you chose when your life is in jeopardy. Rest in peace, Donna. You are free from these POS’s.
You are definitely right, it was all about the money! A curse on this department!!
You NEVER deserved this beautiful girl. All the work she did for your department was forgotten due to a medical bill….it was all about the money. I can only hope that your loved ones make the same decision you chose when your life is in jeopardy. Rest in peace, Donna. You are free from these POS’s.
Yes, I hope so too. Whoever made this decision is a POS!!
Yes, I hope so too. Whoever made this decision is a POS!!