Carson City Sheriff's Deputy Rebecca Zuniga-Brown holds her dog Scout Wednesday in her home in Gardnerville. Scout, a retired K-9 cop is retired now and is suffering from a tumor in his shoulder and Rebecca is unable to raise the $800.00 to have it removed .
For seven years, a black Labrador named Scout served the community of Carson City by sniffing out drugs as a K9 cop. Now in her twilight, Scout needs help from the community.
"Cops get a retirement, Scout doesn't have anything" said owner Deputy Rebecca Zuniga-Brown who worked with Scout her last year on the force and took her home for good in April 2001.
Now, a lump on Scout's shoulder is causing her problems. A biopsy determined it was benign, but she has trouble walking because of it and the arthritis that has set into her hind legs.
"When I play with her, her right front leg will cave out from underneath her," Zuniga-Brown said. "She needs that lump out of her shoulder, I know it's painful for her."
She said when she retired Scout she did so because the dog was having difficulties. At the time, the lump was examined by a veterinarian who diagnosed it as "fat ball" but "it's gotten a hell of a lot bigger since then," she said.
The only problem, Zuniga-Brown said, is the $800 price tag for the surgery.
A single mother, with three daughters living at home, Zuniga-Brown doesn't have the funds to take care of Scout's surgery so she's asking for help.
"It got to the point where I knew financially I couldn't take care of the cost," she said.
On April 19, Zuniga-Brown's 16-year-old daughter, Andrea, and neighbor Valerie Vandiver, sat outside of Raley's in Gardnerville for five hours and collected about $200 for Scout's medical care, but there's more to be done.
In addition to the surgery, Zuniga-Brown said Scout needs testing on her hind legs because of the arthritis.
"I call her my water baby and my snow baby because she loves to swim and loves to roll in the snow, but she hasn't been able to lately," she said.
An account has been set up for those wishing to donate to Scout's medical costs.
Checks can be sent to: Animal Medical Services,1355 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville, NV 89410. In the comments line put, "For Scout."
"I want her to be comfortable for what she's got left of life," she said. "I can't stand the thought of her hurting."
YOU CAN HELP
Send donations to: Animal Medical Services,1355 Centerville Lane, Gardnerville, NV 89410. In the comments line put, "For Scout."
