K9 Charon-Shirley, IN Police Dept.
Donation protected
Hello, My name is Brian Pryor with the Shirley Police Department in Indiana. I am the owner and handler of Charon "haron" 8 year old GermanSheppard. He as been my partner since April 2010. He is a dual purpose Police K9 who serves not only Henry and Hancock county, but multiple counties in the state and has had many succesful bust and apprenensions in his career. Charon is 100% funded by donations and fundraisors.
On February 03, 2017,Charon, our K-9 Police Officer of the Shirley Police Department, Shirley, Indiana, became very ill. It was noticed that his abdomen appeared to be swollen. While in the office on this date, Charon collapsed, he was rushed to the Vet where several test were administered. It was then decided that he needed emergency surgery because of blood in the abdomen area.
I, Chief Brian C. Pryor, and Charon's handler, of the Shirley Police Department, rushed him to Indianapolis to an Emergency Animal Hospital. Upon our arrival, several more test were run. It was found that he had two masses on his spleen, in-which one had ruptured and that is were the blood was coming from. The Doctor's there determined it was necessary to do surgery right away to try and save his life. The Doctor also advised that there was no guarantee that this would in fact save him.
It took almost two (2) hours for the surgery to be completed. Once the surgery had been completed the Doctor came out and spoke to us, my wife (Becki) and I, and advised that surgery went well and that Charon was doing well. He stated that he removed both masses and his spleen during the surgery, he also advised that he removed three (3) liters of blood from Charon's abdomen. He stated that basically Charon was and had been bleeding to death internally. He stated that Charon would have to stay at the Hospital for observation from such a major surgery and they would keep us updated on how he was doing.
Over the next two days, the Animal Hospital Doctor's contacted us regularly to update us and let us know how Charon was. When they contacted us, they always advised he was doing well and that he was making great progress. By the second day, they had contacted us and advised we could come and pick him up.
A biopsy of the blood and the masses had been sent to the pathologist to be screened. The Hospital had gotten the report back from the pathologist which stated that everything showed negative. We were all relieved of the findings.
I took Charon back to the Doctor to have his staples removed from the surgery and the Doctor advised that he had some bad news and was not sure how he was going to tell me. I asked him to just be forward and tell me. He stated the pathologist had conducted a second reading on Charon's biopsy for some reason. The second reading showed that he has cancer. He stated he was not sure why they did the second reading but there must have been something that made them look. The Doctor stated there is no way of knowing if it was all gotten during the surgery or not, but they felt that they may have gotten it.
Over the next 7 weeks Charon was doing great and showing good signs of improvement. He was acting like himself again and wanting to run and play like before. We then noticed that he was slowing down again and had stopped eating and drinking water.
On March 26, 2017 I contacted the Emergency Animal Hospital and advised them that he had not eaten in two and one half days (2 1/2) and had very little water in this amount of time as well. They requested that I bring him in right away. I loaded him up and took him back to Indianapolis to the Hospital to see what was going on. I had noticed during this time that his abdomen appeared to be swelling again.
Once at the Animal Hospital, the Doctor ran several test and took a draw from Charon's abdomen. They did in fact find blood again in his abdomen and requested that he be hospitalized over night so that he could be hooked to fluids and so they could monitor him. They next day, March 27, 2017, they were going to do a full ultrasound on him and try to see all they could. Once the ultrasound was completed the Doctor contacted my wife and I and ask us to come in and see her. Once we were back in the room with her, she advised that the cancer was back. The Doctor showed us the ultrasound and explained it to us that at this time, Charon is very likely experiencing a recurrence of hemangiosarcoma ( cancer of the blood vessels ). There is free blood present in his abdomen, and there are many masses present within the abdomen itself. Given the defused nature of his disease and the progression, Charon is not a candidate for either surgery of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is highly aggressive in dogs, and patients at a similar stage of this cancer to Charon's, live on average a few days up to two weeks, Death may be gradual or acute as she explained to my wife and I. He is on a supplement that may help slow the bleeding. He is also on a anti-nausea medicine and antacid medication to be given when he is uncomfortable.
The Doctor advised she was going to release Charon back into our care to take home. She advised for us to take Charon home and love him and spoil him and let him enjoy his last days. She advised us that Charon has between two (2) days to (2) weeks to enjoy his remaining days with his family.
As most of you know we added a new addition to Shirley Police Department and our family. Justice is six (6) months old and was due to leave for training in Texas when we received the bad news about Charon. Charon's medical bills depleted all funds that were raised two (2) years ago on GoFundMe. Again, Thank you for all the donations and prayers on that fundraiser for it has been a great benefit to Charon's well being.
I will be creating another GoFundMe page to raise around $3,500 in order to send Justice to training so she can be my new K9 partner, and follow Charon's path in law enforcement. Boy does she have some big shoes to fill!! lol We are so sorry for the upsetting news and would like to thank everyone in advance for their thoughts, prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Brian Pryor
Shirley Police Department
409 Main St PO Box 90
Shirley, IN. 47384
On February 03, 2017,Charon, our K-9 Police Officer of the Shirley Police Department, Shirley, Indiana, became very ill. It was noticed that his abdomen appeared to be swollen. While in the office on this date, Charon collapsed, he was rushed to the Vet where several test were administered. It was then decided that he needed emergency surgery because of blood in the abdomen area.
I, Chief Brian C. Pryor, and Charon's handler, of the Shirley Police Department, rushed him to Indianapolis to an Emergency Animal Hospital. Upon our arrival, several more test were run. It was found that he had two masses on his spleen, in-which one had ruptured and that is were the blood was coming from. The Doctor's there determined it was necessary to do surgery right away to try and save his life. The Doctor also advised that there was no guarantee that this would in fact save him.
It took almost two (2) hours for the surgery to be completed. Once the surgery had been completed the Doctor came out and spoke to us, my wife (Becki) and I, and advised that surgery went well and that Charon was doing well. He stated that he removed both masses and his spleen during the surgery, he also advised that he removed three (3) liters of blood from Charon's abdomen. He stated that basically Charon was and had been bleeding to death internally. He stated that Charon would have to stay at the Hospital for observation from such a major surgery and they would keep us updated on how he was doing.
Over the next two days, the Animal Hospital Doctor's contacted us regularly to update us and let us know how Charon was. When they contacted us, they always advised he was doing well and that he was making great progress. By the second day, they had contacted us and advised we could come and pick him up.
A biopsy of the blood and the masses had been sent to the pathologist to be screened. The Hospital had gotten the report back from the pathologist which stated that everything showed negative. We were all relieved of the findings.
I took Charon back to the Doctor to have his staples removed from the surgery and the Doctor advised that he had some bad news and was not sure how he was going to tell me. I asked him to just be forward and tell me. He stated the pathologist had conducted a second reading on Charon's biopsy for some reason. The second reading showed that he has cancer. He stated he was not sure why they did the second reading but there must have been something that made them look. The Doctor stated there is no way of knowing if it was all gotten during the surgery or not, but they felt that they may have gotten it.
Over the next 7 weeks Charon was doing great and showing good signs of improvement. He was acting like himself again and wanting to run and play like before. We then noticed that he was slowing down again and had stopped eating and drinking water.
On March 26, 2017 I contacted the Emergency Animal Hospital and advised them that he had not eaten in two and one half days (2 1/2) and had very little water in this amount of time as well. They requested that I bring him in right away. I loaded him up and took him back to Indianapolis to the Hospital to see what was going on. I had noticed during this time that his abdomen appeared to be swelling again.
Once at the Animal Hospital, the Doctor ran several test and took a draw from Charon's abdomen. They did in fact find blood again in his abdomen and requested that he be hospitalized over night so that he could be hooked to fluids and so they could monitor him. They next day, March 27, 2017, they were going to do a full ultrasound on him and try to see all they could. Once the ultrasound was completed the Doctor contacted my wife and I and ask us to come in and see her. Once we were back in the room with her, she advised that the cancer was back. The Doctor showed us the ultrasound and explained it to us that at this time, Charon is very likely experiencing a recurrence of hemangiosarcoma ( cancer of the blood vessels ). There is free blood present in his abdomen, and there are many masses present within the abdomen itself. Given the defused nature of his disease and the progression, Charon is not a candidate for either surgery of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is highly aggressive in dogs, and patients at a similar stage of this cancer to Charon's, live on average a few days up to two weeks, Death may be gradual or acute as she explained to my wife and I. He is on a supplement that may help slow the bleeding. He is also on a anti-nausea medicine and antacid medication to be given when he is uncomfortable.
The Doctor advised she was going to release Charon back into our care to take home. She advised for us to take Charon home and love him and spoil him and let him enjoy his last days. She advised us that Charon has between two (2) days to (2) weeks to enjoy his remaining days with his family.
As most of you know we added a new addition to Shirley Police Department and our family. Justice is six (6) months old and was due to leave for training in Texas when we received the bad news about Charon. Charon's medical bills depleted all funds that were raised two (2) years ago on GoFundMe. Again, Thank you for all the donations and prayers on that fundraiser for it has been a great benefit to Charon's well being.
I will be creating another GoFundMe page to raise around $3,500 in order to send Justice to training so she can be my new K9 partner, and follow Charon's path in law enforcement. Boy does she have some big shoes to fill!! lol We are so sorry for the upsetting news and would like to thank everyone in advance for their thoughts, prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Brian Pryor
Shirley Police Department
409 Main St PO Box 90
Shirley, IN. 47384
Organizer
Brian Pryor
Organizer
Shirley, IN