Connecticut: GoFundMe set up for retired Norwich police K9

**Story used with courtesy by our news partner WFSB Channel 3

NORWICH, CT (WFSB) - CLICK here for the video story as reported by Kevin Hogan

By Kevin Hogan

By Kaitlyn Naples

A retired Norwich police K9 is a hurting pup, suffering from back problems, and needs help in his recovery.

Nine-year-old Keeto is retired from the Norwich Police Dept. and is now part of Norwich Police Sgt. Nick Rankin’s household.

Three weeks ago, the hind legs on the German Shepherd started to give out.

“As the day went on, he started to lose motor function in his back legs,” Rankin said.

These days, Rankin has to carry Keeto when he goes out and visits the police dept.

An active, talented and hardworking partner with Sgt. Rankin for four years, Keeto protected officers, found missing kids, and got guns off the street.

Now, Rankin raced Keeto to the vet to find out what was wrong with his now pet.

“He says it could be a disc that’s what is seizing him up or it could be a tumor pressing on his spine,” Rankin said.

An MRI revealed a slipped disc, something medication and physical therapy, which starts on Friday, can fix.

Experts said Keeto will walk again, but it is expensive.

“To know that he can move again, that he’s going to be able to walk again, hopefully, I was ecstatic,” Rankin said.

The costs will exceed $10,000, that’s why Rankin started a GoFundMe page. Anything over that will go into a fund to help other police K9s in need.

“I’m starting this, I don’t want another handler to make this decision somewhere down the road where they go how much money is too much to take away from my family. How much overtime is too much time away,” Rankin said.

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