Give K9 Dux a Chance at a Healthy Life
Donation protected
Dux is a 1-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois police dog purchased by the Los Banos Police Department and assigned to his handler and partner, Officer Braeden Gomes, in July of 2024. Ofc. Gomes and Dux began their journey together through weeks of training, teaching Dux what to do and teaching Ofc. Gomes how to command. The partnership between a K9 Officer and their canine begins when they are first paired and normally lasts as long as the dog's lifespan.
Dux lives with Ofc. Gomes, who is his primary caretaker. Naturally, and unsurprisingly, Dux and Ofc. Gomes have formed a deep bond with each other.
Unfortunately, while undergoing training, Dux suddenly fell ill. Dux was taken to an emergency vet and was diagnosed with Giardia, a common parasitic infection. Dux was sent home with medication to treat the giardia, but his condition worsened. Dux was now incontinent and unable to stand under his own power.
Ofc. Gomes took Dux back to the vet, where it was discovered that not only was Dux suffering from the giardia infection, but he also had pneumonia, and a neurological issue responsible for his incontinence and inability to stand upright. Dux was referred by the vet to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Clinic for more advanced diagnosis and treatment. Dux's medical bills began to mount - quickly exhausting the police department's funding allocated for unanticipated medical bills for Dux.
Working in collaboration with Ofc. Gomes to come to a solution, the department agreed to retire Dux and give him to Ofc. Gomes, who would now be able to make any and all financial and executive decisions regarding Dux's medical care without being restricted by Dux’s status of being “city property" and an exhausted budget.
Despite having exhausted the allocated budget for Dux, Los Banos Police Department administrators continued to work diligently with Ofc. Gomes to find solutions and were able to apply for a monetary grant from UC Davis that was awarded to Dux, which covered a large part of the initial medical expenses.
The amazing staff at UC Davis were able to determine what was wrong with Dux - he had inhaled a foxtail, which worked its' way into his respiratory system, then through the walls of his lungs, through more soft tissues, and finally lodged itself into his spinal cord. Dux's only option to making a recovery is likely through a very costly surgery. Doctors anticipate they will have to surgically remove this embedded foxtail from Dux's spinal cord.
Dux is currently at UC Davis, and his medical team says he has a good chance at making a full recovery after necessary treatment. The estimated cost of the surgery/anti-biotic treatment Dux needs is approximately $15,000.... plus any additional medical costs that may occur after the fact. This amount of money will create a significant financial hardship for Ofc. Gomes.
The Los Banos Police Officers Association humbly asks for any donations toward Dux's treatment. Dux's chance at being a full-fledged police canine was cut short - but with your help, he has a chance to live a healthy, normal life.
Any donation amounts received in excess of the cost of Dux's care will be donated by the Los Banos Police Officers Association to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Clinic to benefit another animal in need.
Thank you very much for your support of Dux and Ofc. Gomes!
-The Los Banos Police Officers Association
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Neal
Organizer
Los Banos, CA
Braeden Gomes
Beneficiary