Turbo is recuperating.
Retired K-9 Turbo recovers from a ruptured disk.
Turbo is a nine-and-a-half-year-old German Shepherd who retired from the Stamford Police Department in Stamford, Connecticut. Previously a diligent patrol K-9, he was adopted three years ago by Robin Hayes and family. She explains how every day with him has “been a joy,” and that he has “settled into civilian retirement” quite nicely. His hobbies include lying on the sunniest part of the living room rug, chasing his blue ball, and riding in their family van.
Recently, Hayes and family saw Turbo’s mobility increasingly diminish. Though Turbo has always had an “odd gate,” they initially attributed this decreased mobility to an injury on his hind leg. Over time, however, this pain prevented Turbo from even standing up. MRI results revealed that Turbo had a ruptured disk in this neck. This disk led to the bigger problem—it was suppressing Turbo’s spinal cord.
Turbo was treated at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, New York. This June, he underwent surgery with the help of Dr. Richard Joseph, one of the only K-9 neurologists in the area. NPDF funding helped to make this possible by assisting with the Hayes family’s out-of-pocket costs, allowing them to focus on Turbo’s recovery.
Today, Turbo is still undergoing physical therapy in order to gain full mobility. Hayes explains that he’s frustrated by his inability to get around, but at least “loves all the extra attention he gets” from those around him.
NPDF wishes Turbo a speedy and healthy recovery. The National Police Dog Foundation is proud to support our K-9’s both during their service and through retirement. The NPDF will continue to ensure the health and longevity of both active and retired K-9s across the country.