Buffalo Grove police dog Saxon dies from cancer
Buffalo Grove police canine Saxon, who retired from the force last week after being diagnosed with cancer, died Monday, the police department announced Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Roy Bethge said a veterinarian ended Saxon's suffering Monday.
The 5-year-old German shepherd underwent surgery last month to remove his spleen, where a tumor had grown and ruptured.
Veterinarians also discovered that he had liver cancer.
Just three weeks before Saxon's death, his human partner, Danielle Baron, was awarded Buffalo Grove Officer of the Year for their accomplishments.
“The world can change that fast,” Bethge said.
He said Baron is holding up as well as can be expected given the close working relationship she had with Saxon.
“They worked together in the car every day. I expect they shared the same bond you would with a human partner,” Bethge said. “But she is a very strong, very resilient person.”
Working together the past four years, the partners accomplished quite a lot.
They helped seize more than 460 kilograms of marijuana, some $250,000 of drug money, and assisted in 500 other police activities.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Northern IL Police K-9 Memorial, located at Highland Memorial Park, 33100 N. Hunt Club Road in Libertyville.
The service will be open to the public.
“We appreciate all the public support,” Bethge said. “It means a lot.”
Donations may be made directly to the Northern IL Police K-9 Memorial in memory of Saxon by visiting www.policek9memorial.org.