Passing of retired Sheriff’s Canine Kuma (K92)
By Joel Baugh K92

Kuma (K92)
Is with great sadness that I inform you of Kuma’s passing. Kuma retired in December of 2005 and has led a very happy and healthy life with our family since his retirement. Kuma was in excellent health when he retired and never missed a day of work. Kuma began his career with the Sheriff’s Department in 1999 and had hundreds of apprehensions to his credit as well as countless public appearances.

Four weeks ago I took Kuma to Sunset Animal Medical Center for a routine check of his hips. As he aged Kuma developed some minor hip issues relating to his work for the Sheriff’s Department such as scaling fences and climbing in and out of attics.

As it was a routine check I was shocked when my vet called to report that Kuma was bleeding internally from his spleen area. Apparently it had just started the day I took him in for the hip exam. The doctor explained that spleen issues are common to German Sheppard’s and she indicated that the bleeding may or may not be related to cancer. Emergency surgery was needed to stop the bleeding and save his life that day.

Kuma came through the surgery with flying colors and was soon home with our family spending time in his favorite spot by the pool. The next week I received the news that the spleen was cancerous. The doctor told us that we had somewhere between 4 weeks and 6 months left with Kuma but stated that he would be pain free and happy during this time and this was later found to be true.

On Saturday morning the 24th of May Kuma was not able to get off his dog bed. I immediately took him back to Sunset Animal Medical Center and my worst fears were realized. The cancer had migrated to his liver and he was again bleeding internally. Kuma was given pain medication and was made at home on a large dog bed in the surgery center.

Doctor Arbios and all the staff were outstanding. They treated Kuma, Heidi and myself like members of their own families. Kuma received much love and attention and was happy and content all morning. He passed into the great police dog heaven at noon.

All the outstanding medical care provided for Kuma was funded by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Canine Association (SSDK9.com). We formed the association to help pay for the medical and burial costs of our retired dogs that the county would not cover. Kumas’s medical issues were a prime example of what this money is intended for. Without the initial surgery we would never had know if the illness was cancer related and we would have lost Kuma that day.

We would like to thank all the generous individuals and businesses that have donated to the canine association over the years. If you would like to donate to this very worthy cause, please go to http://www.ssdk9.com/content/sponsors/ and make your tax deductable donation there. Thank you.

There will be a short memorial service for Kuma on Tuesday June 3rd at East Lawn Cemetery on Greenback Lane. The service will be at the Garden of Valor at 1:00 pm. Many of our local police service dogs are interred there. If you worked with Kuma over the years or would like to show support for the canine detail you are welcome to attend the service. This is not an official Sheriff’s Department function.