DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 1, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — K-9 officer Q, medically retired four days ago from the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office, was euthanized Tuesday after signs that her aggressive, terminal cancer had become painful.
The sheriff’s office announced early Tuesday evening that Q, the 2-year-old German shepherd partnered with sheriff’s Cpl. Morant Harrison, has been buried on Harrison’s farm.
Q underwent emergency surgery earlier this summer to remove her right eye after other avenues of treatment failed. Tissue samples taken during the surgery revealed that she had “a fast-acting, very aggressive form of cancer,” Harrison said.
The veterinary specialist who treated Q gave her a few months to live and provided Harrison with a list of signs and symptoms to help him identify when Q’s cancer returned and was causing her pain.
Q was buried with honors in a casket built by inmates who are enrolled in the Building Trades program at the Duchesne County Jail.
“I’ve been deeply touched by the outpouring of support from people in Duchesne County and beyond following our announcement of Q’s cancer diagnosis,” Sheriff David L. Boren said.
“The support and offers of assistance we’ve received in the past four days have helped sustain Cpl. Harrison and his family during this difficult time, and have been a huge comfort to the men and women of the sheriff’s office.”
Q’s retirement leaves Kimber — a Belgian Malinois handled by Sgt. Jared Harrison — as the lone K-9 working for the sheriff’s office. Acquiring a new K-9 can cost up to $10,000, which does not include the cost of equipment and training for the handler. The sheriff’s office is exploring options for adding another K-9 in the near future.
