It was Baehr’s energy and playful personality that convinced veterinarian Kelly Hoyt and her employees to help him.  Baehr, a retired police dog who served for four years in Paola, is battling a mast cell tumor that was diagnosed last month.  “A lot of times police dogs aren’t good pets, but Baehr is just a wonderful dog,” Hoyt said. 

Because of that, Red Oak Animal Hospital in Bucyrus, where Baehr is being treated, sponsored an open house fund-raiser to help defray the costs of the chemotherapy.

Baehr worked for the Paola Police Department from 1998 to 2002 and then to Leawood from 2003 to his retirement in 2006. 

He was a lot of fun to handle “said Jim Herman, Baehr’s police handler and now owner. “ The gals at Red Oak said his disposition is a little uncommon... in that he’s approachable, whereas my first dog and my dog now like their space.”

Baehr was trained as a dual-purpose police dog, which means he was taught to do narcotics detection and patrol work, such as building searches and criminal apprehensions.

After Baehr retired from the police department.  Jim Herman took him as his pet.  “Since he retired, he’s my responsibility” Herman said

Dr. Hoyt said Baehr, 9 had a few medical issues but started acting lethargic and had a lot swelling in his abdominal area.  We did some medical tests and found out it was cancer.  Baehr soon started chemotherapy treatment to help shrink the orange-size tumor, and as of last week the tumor had shrunk to the size of a walnut, Hoyt said.

“We were talking among ourselves and thought it was good of Jim to take care of Baehr, but we know it would cost him a lot,” Hoyt said. “Even with us donating our services, it’ll run into the thousands of dollars.”  The fund-raiser was meant to help Baehr receive the best medical attention possible to keep him living longer. 

06/07 Update
Baehr had surgery to remove the tumor after chemotherapy and shrunk it to operable size.  He is doing great and has an excellent prognosis.