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
He just didn’t want to spend the money. Same to him and his coworkers.. Dogs have no business risking their lives in this. The ones that pick this work should take the risk. You get hurt, oh well. That’s what you are there for. You get paid to go in to a risky position, Part of the risk along with the many benefits.
Exactly!!!! The assholes did not want to spend the money on Donna. That poor baby did not need those MF bastards anyway. She is in a better place away from those assholes. RIP you beautiful girl! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️ 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Exactly!!!! The assholes did not want to spend the money on Donna. That poor baby did not need those MF bastards anyway. She is in a better place away from those assholes. RIP you beautiful girl! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️ 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Exactly!!!! The assholes did not want to spend the money on Donna. That poor baby did not need those MF bastards anyway. She is in a better place away from those assholes. RIP you beautiful girl! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️ 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
Palomo should have not had this decision. As others have said, if they don’t have insurance, a Go Fund Me could have been set up and gotten the money within hours. And the vet could have given a discount. This is just obscene!
so….THIS is how you treat your canine co-worker???? this is the thanks he gets after he’s worked serving and helping you????
you’re a disgusting department!!!
Yes they also let them die in hot car and leave them outside in the heat for 36 hours without water. No more police dogs
That is a disgrace. Was it really because they feared she would suffer or was it because they didn’t want to spend the money. They could have created a Go Fund Me Page, was it too much effort? The community will never forget this, this is on their conscience if they have one. Very disgusted
Another sad outcome for a K9 who literally put their life on the line daily for humans. That dog deserved so much better. Those involved in the decision owed her more than that. They should be ashamed of themselves. Even if she wasn’t fit to return to duty, she certainly could have lived a happy life that she had earned. Instead they treated her as disposable. I hope all involved feel the same level of disposability some day. Shame on all of you.
Where is the petition for Donna? I want sign it.
This just horrible and unreal! To the person who made the decision not to have the obstruction surgery, just think if you ever have to have surgery maybe they should put you down since supposedly you wouldn’t be able to go back and do your job. Five years ago, my former dog had to have surgery for bowl obstruction she had torn off a cover on a ball and couldn’t pass it. After her surgery she just had to take it easy for 3 to 4 weeks, but then she could go back do whatever she was doing and to get back to her old self. The surgery didn’t cause her not to find her balls, sniff the flowers, jump into the water, run the fence line with neighbor’s dogs. This decision not to give this great dog surgery all came down to MONEY! The police dept did not want to spend the money on a dog! Shame on you!! You don’t deserve another K9 in your police department.
A measly $7000 could have been collected in a couple of hours from caring citizens and police officers and staff. “Donna’s welfare and dignity”? My *ss, Paloma!
That was a bad decision, economically and bad for moral and sense of duty to these animals that give 💯 in service. If there is no contingency plan for animal welfare then close the program down. Very tragic story and very unfair, do better.
That was a bad decision, economically and bad for moral and sense of duty to these animals that give 💯 in service. If there is no contingency plan for animal welfare then close the program down. Very tragic story and very unfair, do better.
I am disgusted by this decision. Having rescued many dogs over 30+ years, I have seen surgery done successfully on this same condition. Several of my own dogs have lived to be 17, 18 years old. One was a Great Dane,Shepherd mix, another was a Shepherd/Doberman mix. Both lived into their late teens. They could have contacted a rescue, taken up a gofund me donation, I am sure someone would have been will to help this wonderful dog SHAME on them. Run free Donna!
This is bull crap. This animal should have been given every chance at life. With all the money wasted on people who shouldn’t be getting it and all the free things they’re entitled to, you couldn’t save one dog!!!! How truly sad!!
This is bull crap. This animal should have been given every chance at life. With all the money wasted on people who shouldn’t be getting it and all the free things they’re entitled to, you couldn’t save one dog!!!! How truly sad!!
What was the obstruction anyway? Did her handler either feed her something or let her eat something that shouldn’t have been (chicken bones come to mind)? Richard Palomo made up lies to cover his own *ss – saying her future was just not known when the veterinarian said she’d be okay. He talks about her loyalty when he doesn’t know the meaning of loyalty! First, I’d make sure he had no say whatsoever over the K9’s. That should have been a board decision and don’t tell me they can’t have a phone or IM meeting to take care of this quickly. Then, I’d deduct $21,000 a year, every year from his salary and start a K9 medical fund! I’m telling you, if Richard Palomo even coughs you know what I’d recommend!
I agree! Whoever Richard Palomo is, he is an idiot who should have never been given the authority to make this decision. The surgery is a fairly routine one that is done on MANY dogs and very successfully. I had it done on one of my dogs and she live a long full life after it. That was a TERRIBLE AND HORRIFFIC thing to do. I’m shocked this person was allowed to make the decision on his own and that he was allowed to make such a deadly mistake. He basically killed an innocent dog.
horrible. she projected and served and this a inhumane judgement. These dogs should not be in law enforcement or military if they are not being treated as their human partners. RIP thank you for your service and you deserved better.
horrible. she projected and served and this a inhumane judgement. These dogs should not be in law enforcement or military if they are not being treated as their human partners. RIP thank you for your service and you deserved better.
The great work this wonderful K9 did meant nothing to them, many deadly narcotics taken off the streets that kill our kids, criminals jailed, lives saved, meant nothing to them – shame! If the same thing happen to them, who would save these heartless humans???
i hope all involved die of the same thing.Diarrhea , death is horrible , isn’t that what they died from in the spanish flu , the plague all diseases
I agree with Renee! Shame on these heartless morons!
i hope all involved die of the same thing.Diarrhea , death is horrible , isn’t that what they died from in the spanish flu , the plague all diseases
i hope all involved die of the same thing.Diarrhea , death is horrible , isn’t that what they died from in the spanish flu , the plague all diseases
After he said deeply loved by the officers, I turned it off. And here we are, another canine, killed by a police department, mainly they’re coming from Texas.\n I don’t want to say he’s ripening away with those surgeries. It is kind of hard to tell if they’re going to come through or not, but apparently this wasn’t that serious to the extent of what they did to her.\nOnce again , another cop , killing a dog