Retired County Drug Dog Diagnosed With Cancer

Local legendary K9 officer Lobos recently spent a week in Texas A&M’s veterinary hospital after having been diagnosed with cancer.

Lobos gained national acclaim for the hundreds of millions of dollars in drugs he sniffed out along Interstate-10 in Fayette County overs the years before he retired in 2018 and was replaced by the county’s new drug dog – Kolt.

Lobos has chondrosarcoma in one of his lumbar vertebrae. Thankfully, it is localized and confined to the one vertebra, and is very accessible with radiation — this means that his prognosis for treatment is good.

Currently, because of the cancer cells’ presence in the bone, the vertebra has expanded and is pressing on his spinal cord and the associated nerves.

This has caused difficulty walking, as Lobos has lost some mobility in his hind legs. The goal of his radiation treatment is to shrink the bone back down to relieve the pressure that is causing his symptoms.

So far, Lobos has undergone two of five treatments. He has shown promising improvement, and with good results, should live the rest of his normal life expectancy comfortably and continue enjoying his leisurely retirement.

Unfortunately, treating canine cancer is very costly. Already, Lobos’s medical expenses are expected to exceed $14,000. To cover these costs, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department has put together a fundraiser for their retiree through the Fayette County Sheriff’s Memorial and Benevolent Society. The Benevolence Fund is currently covering the upfront costs of Lobos’s medical bills, and will continue to pay for upcoming bills as they come in while he continues treatment.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone wishing to support this brave K9 to please make a donation to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Memorial and Benevolent Society. It is a 501(c)3 organization, and therefore any donation is considered tax deductible.

Donations may be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office or mailed to 1646 N. Jefferson Street, La Grange, TX, 78945. For any further information, please contact Sergeant Detective Angela Jasek-Lala by calling (979) 968-5858.

Despite his career as K9 Sergeant Thumann’s right-hand “man,” taking down criminals and keeping illegal narcotics off of American streets, Lobos remains as charming ever. The sweet old man has a “big fan club” at the hospital, according to his current owner, who shall remain nameless for Lobos’s safety. “Anyone who meets Lobos is liable to instantly fall in love with him.”

And as someone who has photographed him and has had the pleasure of playing with him after his 2018 Best Law Enforcement Officer of Fayette County win, I can attest to this. Lobos is one of the biggest hams, and is such a sweetheart. Right now, he deserves all of the support that his hometown can muster.