“To Whom I Owe So Much…”

Purpose of Story

I decided to start writing our story the day that I had found out that Risci was diagnosed with cancer.  I am writing this to help me accept and deal with the devastating news.  I also am writing this to give my family, friends etc insight about things that I had dealt with in the past and how it affected me and my behavior.  I will talk about emotions, thoughts and behaviors that do not show me in the best light.  I thought it was important to include these things despite the embarrassment it may cause me. I also would like to acknowledge the TSA training staff, the VCA Hospital in Temecula, Ca and the Paws of Honor Organization.  All of the above organizations deserve all of the praise in the world.

Prior to Risci

I had always wanted to be a Police Officer.  My older brother was a Police Officer, and he is and always will be my hero.  So, after graduating High School, I joined the U.S. Army and served as a Military Police Officer.  I wanted to be a K9 Officer in the Military but that was not meant to be.  After completing my enlistment, I was hired as a Police Officer for a large metropolitan city.  I was very proud and felt like my dream had come true.  I was generally happy for several years.

In 2013 I had worked 18 years as a Police Officer for the city.  I had worked 9 years in Patrol and 9 years in public Housing.  One day I woke up and realized that my dream job had somehow become a nightmare.  Working in such a negative environment with citizens that hated the Police and a City Leadership who refused to support the police, I often wondered how I became the bad guy.  I was more alarmed by the changes that had occurred in me.  I dreaded going to work, I avoided human interaction, I was bitter, angry and started drinking too much.  I would go into weeklong severe depression and could not understand why.  I started to take my frustrations out on my wife and children.  When I would snap and yell over small things, it felt like it was an out of body experience that I could not control.  I could see myself acting certain ways and saying hateful things that I knew were wrong but could not stop.  One of my daughters had video taped me in such a rage.  She taped me not to get me into any kind of trouble but to show me how I acted when I had calmed down.  That awakening had cut me like a knife and I could not believe the despicable language and behavior that I exhibited.

I have always had a good sense of right and wrong and I believe most Police Officers do.  So when I behaved this way it was always followed up by embarrassment, shame and guilt.  These feelings grew so intense, that I had contemplated suicide on several occasions and had one semi attempt.   I found comfort in the thought of suicide and knew that if things kept going in this manner, I could always finally take control and just end it all.  It seemed so clear that I would benefit everyone’s lives by just ending my own.

Yet I continued to work and had taken the Sergeant promotional exam.  I was extremely surprised that I had been selected to be promoted since I didn’t really study and more importantly never wanted that job.  I was on the waiting list to become a Canine Officer and that is what I always had wanted to do.  People thought that I was crazy for turning down the promotion since it would be more money and more pension for retirement.  Yet I knew that I was getting close to being reached for the K9 unit and I thought I could always test for promotion later in my career.

The Beginning with Risci

In 2014 I was selected to join the Explosion Detection K9 Unit which required 10 weeks of training in San Antonio Texas.  I was filled with an excitement and pride that I thought had abandoned me forever.  Being in my early 40’s, I realized that the training would be more challenging than it would have been in my 20’s.  I struggled at first but had excellent instructors and classmates that helped me along.

My Coworkers in my unit were insistent that I get a German Shepherd or a Belgian Malinois (pointy ear dog).   All of their dogs had been German Shepherds at the time, and they thought the breed commanded more respect out on the street.  I wished for a lab or more timid dog and was hoping for one that would not shed so much.  My wife did not want me to get a dog.  She had a bad experience with an  ex boyfriend who was a fanatic with his dog.  Little did she know at the time that we would become worse.

At the schoolhouse they take some time to team a dog up with a handler based on personalities and working abilities.  They choose the dog for you. You are not allowed any input.  They have a responsibility to ensure they get the best working team.  For example if they have a (A+) Dog with a (C+) Handler the team would be a (B+) Team.  Ironically that is how it went for me and my Dog with him being a solid A and I was more of a C.

First time meeting Risci.

So the day comes when I finally get to meet the Dog which was assigned to me.  I was in awe when I saw this Stoic 63-pound male German Shepherd purebred that had the intense look and stare of a wolf.  They also named the dog and advised me that his name was (RISCI).  They told me that I could pronounce it REECIE or RISKY. Seeing how he was an explosive detection K9 the choice was clear, Risky it is.  I was scared and intimidated by the Dog who was water aggressive and would hold my arm in his mouth if I tried to brush him or touch him.  It was also alarming how aggressive he was towards the other dogs.  He was wild and had a documented history of some behavior problems.  Once while walking into the Vet clinic the trainers noticed how he was looking into every crate, looking for other dogs to start problems with.

After completing the training we were brought to the Airport to fly back to our respected working locations.  Risci wore a muzzle on the plane for liability purposes. Prior to boarding the plane, we saw a toddler with a parent at a starbucks kiosk.  I watched as Risci looked at this little person and started to do the famous Shepherd  head tilt.  I could tell that he was in awe of this little person and could also see that Risci was extremely intelligent and inquisitive.  While on the plane I was assigned an aisle seat and Risci was to be stored under my seat.  Well a 63 pound dog wearing a muzzle he did not want to wear let me know right away he would not stay under the seat.  I had Risci in the aisle until a flight attendant stated that he would have to be moved so they could get by with the food trays.  I then had Risci on my lap.  The next challenge was the muzzle that he was using his paws to try to take off.  I ended up removing the muzzle and really did not know what to expect.  With his Tail across the lap of the man seated next to me and the muzzle removed, Risci began to lick the bald head of the man seated in front of me.  Luckily everyone had a good laugh and with the air conditioning of the plane, Risci fell fast asleep on my lap.  That is until the food cart hit him in the head as it passed by.   At that point Risci let out one of his sighs which also brought about laughter.

When Risci got home it was exciting to watch him as he experienced things for the first time.   Within the first week, we had decided to go out to dinner and leave Risci in the backyard.  Everything would be fine because we had the mandatory 6 foot fence, what could go wrong.  I can still remember the look on my wifes face when we pulled in front of the house.  She was pale and could not speak and could only point towards the front of the house.  To my surprise I saw Risci  had jumped the fence and was looking for us.  Luckily nothing bad had happened to him or anyone else and we had learned a valuable lesson.  I also learned that Risci hated to be apart from me.  A couple of weeks later, I attended a Motley Crue concert and it was my wifes first babysitting assignment with Risci.  He watched for me out the front window until he became impatient and started to growl and chase his tail in circles in the living room area.  My wife and Daughter stayed watching while on the 2nd story banister scared and not sure what to do.  Another time my wife wanted to walk Risci.  I showed her enough that I thought that she would be ok.  She returned home with a bloody elbow.  Risci had seen something of interest and ended up dragging her a good distance on the sidewalk.  My wife, although slightly injured, was proud that she never let go of the leash.  It seemed as though Risci realized that he had caused harm.  Risci and my wife started to have this incredible loving bond that was simply amazing.  Risci was not willing to let her Alpha over him in the pecking order but he did care for her more than I could imagine.  He started to become protective over her and went to her for Dog massages.  Once at a park, a man approached my wife extremely close face to face with no respect for personal boundaries.  Risci got in between them and stood on his hind legs and let out a single bark.  The man fell back in surprise.  Risci was just letting the man know he needed to back away.

Enter Boh Boh

Risci and Boh Boh sharing the couch.

2 years into having Risci, we thought it was a good idea to get a small rescue dog.  We wanted company for Risci but I really wanted a dog for my wife.  We ended up getting a 20 pound (beagle Terrier mix) my daughter  named Boh Boh.  This dog has wire hair and is brown, black, and white coloring.  He has a natural mohawk and goatee and his eyes look like they have mascara around them.  Numerous people have said that his eyes look human.  He is a very intelligent dog with the attitude and swag of a big dog.  Risci and Boh Boh had picked each other while we attended the pet adoption event.  Boh Boh could not wait until he was old enough and his vaccinations were completed so he could accompany us on our walks.  I remember the first time they walked together, Boh Boh kept side by side with Risci and kept looking up at him.  He soon began holding onto Risci’s leash as if he was the one walking Risci.  People would laugh at the sight of this little dog walking the big one.  Risci rarely showed affection towards Boh Boh but Boh Boh adored Risci.  One time my wife gave both Dogs a dog bone treat in the backyard. She briefly went into the house to return to find Boh Boh looking extremely sad with no bone treat.  She had asked Boh Boh where his treat was.  Upon hearing her ask the question, Risci let out his famous sigh and dropped the bone that he had.  He then went to the back steps and swept his paw under the step to retrieve the other bone he had stashed there.  My wife could not believe that Risci understood what she had said but more importantly had taken Boh’s treat and placed it there for later.  We would then give Boh Boh his treat when Risci and I were at work.  Boh Boh could never finish it and would panic and bury it in the backyard.  It was funny how Risci would scan the yard with his detection nose and always find the treasure as Boh Boh watched helplessly.  Boh Boh was also famous for starting trouble with other dogs like some little dogs do.   Risci always had Boh Bohs back and on two separate occasions had put a bigger dog in its place for going after Boh Boh.

Work with Risci

Risci at work.

Working with Risci was what had really saved me.  As I stated earlier, prior to Risci I was extremely depressed and burnt out.  Risci had brought such fulfillment and joy it is hard to explain.  From the minute he would wake me up every morning knowing what time it was and ready for work.  He would stand near my side of the bed wagging his tail until I woke.  When I would put on his Badge/Collar it was like he knew what it meant.  He would transform from this happy pet to this serious and dedicated Officer.  The seriousness of the job and the training was ongoing and I was constantly amazed at his abilities.  I always knew that I was the weaker link between us and I always strived to be better for him.  We successfully passed all of our annual evaluations over the years.  The personal changes that had occurred with me were astonishing.  I was extremely happy with the 9+ working years with Risci.  No longer moody, angry and depressed I had become the exact opposite.  I would go out of my way to start conversations with people and would love to introduce Risci to people and talk about him.  I volunteered for every assignment I possibly could.  We were able to work PGA Golf Tournaments, College Football Playoffs, 5 Super Bowls (San Francisco, Houston, Miami, Tampa and Los Angeles) to name a few..  The out of state assignments required us to travel by plane.  Depending on the Airline, sometimes Risci had to sit on the floor and sometimes he received his own seat.  On all of the flights he was now extremely well trained and had perfect behavior.  On one of the flights, we were allowed to board the plane first.  Risci was sitting in his seat like a human, and his pointy ears were sticking up.  Mid-flight, a flight attendant who had not realized we were on the flight approached for the drink order.  She screamed when she saw Risci sitting there as she was surprised by his presence.  This brought a plane full of laughter as Risci just stared at her with his serious but dismissive look.  During the last 2 years of our employment, the Country had experienced the George Floyd movement, Defund the Police and then Covid.   Focusing on training and being with Risci kept me positive when all those forces were trying to pull me into the negative.  I enjoyed our lunch ritual of sharing an apple that my wife had packed for us.  He would paw me and let me know it was his turn if I ever tried to double tap a bite.  Training with our fellow coworkers and our master trainer was nothing but fun.  I really respect the knowledge and patience that our trainer passed down.  He really enjoyed developing the teams and is one of the best human beings I have ever met.

Retirement

At 10 years of age Risci had started to slow down slightly but was still very capable of doing his job and probably could have done so for at least a year longer.  I would be able to keep Risci if I had retired Risci but would have to get a new dog if I continued working.  Bonding with a new dog did not appeal to me and I could not imagine going to work with another Dog while Risci looked on.  They would also take the new dog away from me if I didn’t stay and work him long enough.   I simply could not do that to Risci.  I started my career when I was 25 years old so I always thought I would do my full 30 years for the maximum retirement.  I was 52 ½ years old with 27 ½ years of service when I retired.  Risci and I both retired on the same day and were both given retirement ID Cards.  My ID card said Officer while his said Sergeant.  In the Military the Dog is always a rank ahead of the handler and our Department honored that same tradition.  It only made sense since I fed him, bathed him and picked up his feces that He should be a rank higher.

During the time that I had worked with Risci, I had received a 5% pay increase for care and maintenance of Risci.  I was able to drive a Department Vehicle (unmarked black Chevy Tahoe) to and from work.  I was also given constant overtime due to Risci’s skill set.  I had used all of the extra money to remodel the older home we had purchased a year after receiving Risci.  I had also received nearly a full year of Sergeants pay for being the acting sergeant in the K9 unit.  The acting sergeant pay was pensionable and very ironic since I had turned down a promotion many years ago.  After retiring, we sold our home and with the profit we made we were able to put down 80% of the purchase of a new home which left us a very little mortgage payment.   Financially we were way better off then when we were working.

Risci turns into Pet

Risci sitting with some flowers.

After Retiring I decided to fulfill a lifetime dream of working at a winery.  I only worked part time to keep me busy and have a little play money for myself.  This is the first time I would go to work without Risci.  I was surprised how fast Risci got used to our new arrangement.  Risci spent so much time with my wife he had clearly become her dog.  She knew just how to win him over with snacks and ball play.  I would try to throw the ball for Risci but he would either ignore me or fetch it and bring it to my wife.  My wife who did not want a dog now became a dog expert.  She started to call Risci “KiKi” and that quickly became his new name.  As a working dog Risci was never able to socialize with other dogs except Boh Boh.  Now as KiKi he became the King of our new neighborhood.  He had three people on our daily walks that he would stop and get treats from.  With his intense stare no one could give him just one treat.  We would cut down his dinner to ensure that he would not gain weight.  I was always proud of the care that we gave to Risci by keeping his weight at 63 pounds his entire life and giving him plenty of walks and exercise.

I did not like to take a vacation without Risci.  We boarded him once at a kennel while we went on a cruise.  We were able to monitor Risci via a camera that was in the room.  Both my wife and I saw Risci walking in circles all night in the Kennel.  Risci would not go to the bathroom unless we took him on a walk.  Another time I went on an Alaska Fishing trip and it was necessary to Kennel Risci for 3 days.  When my wife Picked up Risci she said that she took him for a walk and said that he defecated a week’s worth of feces.  She said that he must have held it the entire time we were away.   We decided to not leave Risci or vacation without him ever since.  I would get a lot of ridicule and comments from friends, family and coworkers regarding my special treatment for Risci.  I would often hear that he was just a dog.  What they would never understand is that he was not just a dog to me and that he was much, much more.  In retrospect I am so glad of how I was with Risci.  I had never lost sight of what he had done for me and what I had owed him.  I never wanted to look back and regret anything and I can proudly say that I won’t.

Cancer Diagnosis

On 8/28/24 Risci had nipped a neighbor’s dog in the muzzle causing minor injury.  This was not like Risci, he has been face to face with this submissive female dog for 1 ½ years now.  Something was not right.  The very next day an open wound was noticed on his right leg.  Risci was brought to the Veterinarian where it was determined to be an erupted tumor.  We had to wait a full week to get the diagnosis of the tumor coming back as cancerous.  I was blown away and could not believe or comprehend how this could happen to such a healthy and happy dog.  We had never felt a bump and when the vet had tried to get a sample from the mass she struggled.  She said that there was no mass and could barely get enough for a sample to test.  Although Risci is 12 years 4 months old, I did not feel like it was his time.  I struggled with the concern that I was being selfish by not letting him go.  I always swore I would not let him suffer if he became ill.  Due to the fact that his blood work was not crazy, the tumor had exploded outward and there was very little for the vet to obtain a sample.  We decided to have the Surgery done.

Surgery

Risci had Surgery on Monday 9/9/24 at the VCA Hospital in Temecula, California. I was surprised when his usual 63 pound weight was 57 pounds when I brought him in.  How did I not notice his weight loss? Dr. Corso conducted the Surgery as she has been his treating vet since we had retired.  During the Surgery a second tumor was discovered on his same right leg. Dr. Corso had removed both Tumors and did an excellent job.  I had dropped Risci off at 7:30am and had not heard about the results of the Surgery till late afternoon.  I learned that Risci had a hard time coming out of the anesthesia.  I picked him up at 5pm and had a long night ahead.  Risci was extremely drowsy and would stand at attention facing North then East, South and then West.  He would stand at each position for a couple minutes.  This behavior was comical at first but became alarming when it lasted all night.  I would calm him down and get him to lay down by rubbing his snout between his eyes.  We would sleep together on his dog bed until he would wake to start his routine again.  Risci would not eat the next day and would not urinate or defecate for 2 days.  I was so relieved on Wednesday when I woke to his hunger whine. Risci ate his full meal and begged for more. I gave him more in an attempt to get his weight back up.  Risci was walking, eating, drinking and going to the bathroom normally. Risci was also trying to run and play like he had always done. I was extremely ecstatic and glad that we had made the right choice to have the Surgery.

Post Surgery

It is Tuesday 9/17/24 as I am typing this story.  Yesterday we noticed that Risci started to limp on his right front paw.  We also felt two new bumps on his underbelly. Ironically, Dr. Corso called to tell me the test results of the second tumor.  She had great details of what type of cancer he has and I could only hear that it attacks white blood cells.  She asked if I would like to conduct a costly ultrasound that could detect any more tumors.  I realized that Risci barely survived the anesthesia and to be honest I did not want to hear what his eyes had been telling me for the last week.  I declined to have the ultrasound.  Risci had his staples removed on 9/21/24 and was back to chasing the ball and acting like a pup.  We took Risi to Huntington Beach on 9/25/24 to 9/27/24 and had a blast.  He ate steak every night.  Risci was very active until 10/7/24 which is the day he stopped playing ball.  10-7 in the police code is out of service and I thought that would be the day we said goodbye.  Risci held on eating, drinking and walking well until 10/9/24 when he stopped eating and threw up a couple of times.  He stilled seemed to be in no pain and would just position himself where he could lay and watch us.  On 10/10/24 Risci could no longer walk and we knew just like everyone said we would that it was time for him to leave us.

Paws of Honor

Paws of Honor is a nonprofit organization that assists retired working dogs (Military and Police dogs) with medical expenses.  Paws of Honor is based out of Virginia and has most of their events in that location.  I applied to the program and was accepted.  This organization was beyond outstanding.  They paid for all of Risci’s medical bills and were extremely empathetic and helpful when we needed them most.  A large part of me telling this story is to raise awareness to this incredible organization in hopes of people opening their hearts and donating to their cause.  My wife and I will spend the rest of our lives trying to assist this program with awareness, any volunteer work we can do and donations that we will provide.  After the pricey surgery and to have Risci leave us just one month after having completed it may seem like a waste.  I assure you it was not, I don’t know what I would have done without the extra time with him.  I believe he benefited from the extra time as well and maybe that is why he was able to go so peacefully and not filled with anxiety or stress.

Summary

I feel incredibly lucky to have spent so much time with my very best friend.  A year or so after first getting Risci I was floored by a comment my wife had made.  She revealed that just prior to getting Risci she had planned on leaving me because of the horrible person I was.  I also reflected on how when we received Risci my daughters were 24, 22, 20 and 16 years old.  We were  becoming empty nesters and Risci filled a void.  Having girls, I lost them in the teenage years to their friends, boyfriends and general teenage lives.  It is a natural transition but hard for me just the same.  It was so awesome to have such a loyal friend that really just wanted to be with me all of the time. I had titled our journey, “To Whom I owe so much.”  I did this because he is credited for making me a better person, saving a marriage, resurrecting a career, and making it possible for me to retire early with financial security.  In the end the first word that will always come to mind when I think of him is THANK YOU…

We thank K9 Risci’s handler, Mike Peregoy, and his family for allowing us to share this touching story.

If you feel moved by this story and would like to pitch in to support both ends of the leash, please consider donating to our mission! We cover veterinary expenses so the handlers of these four-legged heroes can focus on giving their beloved partners a long and healthy retirement, because that’s what they deserve! If you would like to learn more about the other courageous canines in our program, follow this link!

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