Zion Officer Ogden and Canine Knox. | Photo provided.
A fundraiser was launched for a Zion Police Department dog who is about to retire after having difficulty walking and a mass was found in his spine.
Canine Knox has had difficulty walking for the past month and has refused to use his hind legs, his handler Zion police officer Robert Ogden said.
An MRI showed that Knox had a mass that was pressing on his spine. “Unfortunately, without surgery, doctors can’t be sure what exactly that mass is,” said Ogden.
The condition has resulted in him losing some mobility and experiencing significant pain.
After serving the Zion Ward for two years, Knox will retire from the service. Ogden has decided to continue the treatment for Knox out of pocket.
Treatment includes surgery and many months of rehabilitation totaling approximately $ 12,000.
Zion Officer Ogden and Canine Knox. | Photo provided.
The surgery has a high likelihood of relieving the pain Knox is in and improving mobility, Ogden said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise funds for Ogden. The account raised nearly $ 7,000 with a goal of $ 10,000.
“Anything not used or above will be donated to the Zion PD Canine Program for future teams,” said Ogden. “If you can think of other ideas to help Knox, we’d love to hear them.”
“Please take a moment now to make a donation for Knox. He has made an important contribution to the security of the Zion community, ”said Ogden.
Canine Knox is the only canine unit in the Zion Police Department and, according to the city, was financed almost entirely by a private foundation and confiscated with narcotics.
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