Please Welcome K-9 Skye #403
Please welcome K-9 “Skye” to our Project K-9 Hero Pack as our 403rd Program Member. Skye honorably served as a Dual-Purpose Patrol/Narcotics Detection K-9 with the Moosic Borough Police Department, in Pennsylvania.
Late afternoon on Saturday, August 15th, we received an emergency application for assistance. Skye had already spent two days in the ICU prior to PK9H being notified, on the verge of liver failure. That evening, we collected medical records and current bloodwork so our Critical Care Consultant, and Executive Board Member, Dr. Erica O’Donnell, could assess the situation and help make a determination if our nonprofit could help this Hero and Handler financially when they needed it most. Once the records were reviewed, we made a unanimous decision to immediately place Skye into our program and attempt to save her life late that evening.
Initial testing revealed severely elevated liver enzymes, dangerously high bilirubin levels, and signs of coagulopathy, indicating significant liver dysfunction. Over the next several days, Skye underwent extensive diagnostics, including bloodwork, imaging, and supportive treatment. Her condition remained guarded, and she was transferred to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (PennVet) for advanced specialty care.
At PennVet, Skye underwent a liver biopsy surgery. During the procedure, the surgical team discovered numerous small lesions throughout her liver, abnormal liver appearance consistent with serious disease, and foreign material in her stomach (small rocks/bones and food fragments), which was removed to prevent future obstruction. A bile sample was collected for further testing.
These findings confirm that Skye is facing a significant hepatic illness that requires intensive treatment, monitoring, and ongoing hospitalization. Despite the seriousness of her condition, Skye has shown moments of real progress. On August 19th, she was more alert, willing to eat, and even played with her toys, the brightest she has looked since entering the hospital. Her medical team continues to monitor her closely as we await biopsy and bile culture results.
We had the intial $5,500 that the Handler had placed on her personal credit card reversed and placed on our nonprofit card. In the last seven days that Skye has been hospitalized, Project K-9 Hero has paid a total of $13,169.25 so far on her medical care, and she still needs ongoing hospitalization at the time of this announcement.
During her career, K-9 Skye had 55 deployments that included many arrests, seizures, and surrenders. We are honored to be covering these costs for her very appreciative Handler, which is a monetary amount that would be a financial burden on any actively serving Police Officer. PK9H is not only covering this week’s medical bills, but we are committed to paying for all future veterinary visits, medications, supplements, diagnostic testing, and surgeries at 100%, for the rest of Skye’s life.
Please take a moment to welcome K-9 Skye to our Pack! PK9H is here to protect you after all you have done to protect the State of Pennsylvania and surrounding communities.
