Spooner Police Department K-9 Rex

The Spooner Police Department, in cooperation with the Spooner Police Foundation, is asking for YOUR help! K-9 Officer Tucker and the members of the Spooner Police Foundation have an urgent need for funding for elective stomach surgery for K-9 Rex to increase his life expectancy and protect him from a possible life-ending medical event.

Due to K-9 Rex's breed and the duties he performs for the Spooner Police Foundation, this places Rex at a higher risk for what is called Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), also known as bloat, which occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes blocked, and gas and fluid accumulate, causing the stomach to stretch to many times its normal size. The bloated stomach causes severe pain, and it is prone to twist. When the stomach twists, all of its contents become trapped and the blood supply is cut off. Without blood flow, the stomach quickly deteriorates, and, because it is so distended, it can compress the large vessels that return the blood back to the heart and cause a shock to the circulatory system.

Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live. In order to prevent GDV, a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as a Prophylactic Laparoscopic Gastropexy is performed. During the procedure, the dog's stomach is secured to the inner abdomen wall, preventing the stomach from twisting and cutting off blood flow.

Although the Gastropexy will not prevent Rex's stomach from becoming blocked, it will prevent his stomach from twisting, giving enough time for him to be transported to a medical facility to remove the blockage.

Due to the complexity of the surgery, Rex will be having this procedure done in the Twin Cities in August or September. The approximate cost of the surgery is $4200 and that is with the generous $1,000 donation from the surgery center because he is a police K-9.

This is a large expense for the Spooner Police Foundation (non-profit) that covers all costs related to Rex. We receive no funds from the City of Spooner and REALLY need your help to cover this surgery!

Please consider donating if you can! This is a possible life-saving procedure and K-9 Rex, Officer Tucker, and members of the Spooner Police Department and Spooner Police Foundation would be eternally grateful!