Bosco, a retired Rohnert Park police dog, leans on retired Rohnert Park Police Officer Joel Walter's leg as they walk through Kotate Park, in Cotati on Monday, March 3, 2014. The 10-year-old Belgian Malinois was diagnosed with cancer last month and had his front leg amputated on February 14th. He starts chemotherapy treatment Tuesday.(Christopher Chung/ The Press Democrat)

More than $7,000 raised for former Rohnert Park police dog

ELIZABETH M. COSIN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The public has donated more than $7,000 for the care of Bosco, the retired Rohnert Park police dog who is fighting cancer.

Bosco, a Belgian Malinois owned by his former handler, retired Rohnert Park Police Officer Joel Walter, was diagnosed in February with osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer. The dog had to have his right leg and shoulder amputated. He is scheduled to undergo a series of chemotherapy treatments, which are estimated to cost as much as $9,000.

Cover Your Retired K-9, a nonprofit that provides aid to police dog handlers as well as emergency care for retired dogs, set up a fundraising link March 3 on its website, www.coveryourK9.org, called "Go To Bat For Bosco."

Bosco received the first treatment earlier this week and Walter reported that he is doing well. The radiation treatments, according to Bosco's vet, are not as intense as they are for humans and dogs tend to tolerate them well. Any pain or discomfort caused by the illness is usually alleviated by the amputation, they said.

Walter also said that a $100 harness that helps Bosco walk better on three legs was also donated.

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