Hero Police Dog Succumbs to Cancer - Morris Animal Foundation Honors 'Rocky' - Also Honored 'Rocky' Six Years Ago When H...( - Rocky Loses Cancer Battle on...),Health

- Rocky Loses Cancer Battle on the Anniversary of His Heroism

- Morris Animal Foundation Leading Campaign to Cure Canine Cancer - One in Four Dogs Dies of Cancer - Leading Cause of Death in Dogs over 2

DENVER, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Cancer has claimed a hero police dog, and Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) is now honoring "Rocky," a canine member of the Lakewood Police Department in Colorado. MAF first honored Rocky six years ago when his bravery resulted in being shot, but in still catching a criminal.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070417/LATU030LOGO)

As reported in the Rocky Mountain News and Denver Post, six years ago on Aug. 4, Rocky was working with Lakewood Police Agent Darren Maurer in pursuit of a criminal. The criminal shot Rocky at near point blank range. Although wounded, Rocky continued chasing the suspect for another 70 yards, at which point the dog took down the criminal who was then arrested. Rocky was honored by the mayor of Lakewood with a medallion for his "bravery and fidelity." MAF followed up with an honor as well, sending Maurer a Christmas ornament for Rocky -- an ornament that hangs on the Maurer Christmas tree each year.

Sadly on the anniversary of that heroism, Aug. 4, 2008, Maurer, who worked with Rocky during the dog's six years on the force, held Rocky in his arms as the Dutch shepherd was euthanized, losing his battle against prostrate cancer. As quoted in the Rocky Mountain News Maurer said, "There's a huge hole in my heart ... he was lifting his head and breathing and it was one barrier in his life he couldn't fight through."

Maurer told MAF, "He was more than a dog. He and I shared the human-animal bond; we had a bond that's impossible to describe. Every year we have hung the Christmas ornament MAF sent us. The ornament will always hang on our tree. I'll always have that bond with Roc
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