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Reggie following her surgery in April for mouth cancer
Community members touched by the story of a retired police dog battling cancer showed their support by pitching in for her care.
Over the past several weeks, the Douglas County Methamphetamine Task Force collected about $3,500 in donations for Reggie, the golden retriever who retired recently from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, the donations sent to the Greater Douglas United Way were turned over to Sheriff’s Cpl. Jeff Frieze to reimburse him for the costs he took on after agreeing to take the other half of his K-9 unit home as a pet.
“It was very, very awesome,” Frieze said of the community’s support. “There are so many good people out there in Douglas County.”
Meth Task Force members took up the collection to help pay for Reggie’s surgery for cancer found in her mouth, and to help pay for her continued care. The surgery, which involved removing a portion of Reggie’s lower jaw in April, cost Frieze about $2,100.
Janet Judd, the task force’s executive director, said in April that Reggie served the community well by keeping drugs out of Douglas County after the group raised funds from the community to purchase her for the Sheriff’s Office.
This week, she said the outpouring of support from the community amazed those at United Way. Small donations, $10 here, $25 there, came pouring in.
“People would come in off the street with cash, and just throw it down and say, ‘Make sure that goes to Reggie,’” Judd said, adding that people are still donating.
Frieze has since learned that Reggie isn’t out of the woods yet. She needs monthly checkups for the next several months at Oregon State University’s small animal teaching hospital in Corvallis to test for cancer cells, and may possibly require further treatment.
Still, Frieze said Reggie has been adjusting well at home.
“It’s been a lot more fun and a lot less stress just having her as a member of the family and not a co-worker,” he said.
• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@nrtoday.com.
Over the past several weeks, the Douglas County Methamphetamine Task Force collected about $3,500 in donations for Reggie, the golden retriever who retired recently from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Last week, the donations sent to the Greater Douglas United Way were turned over to Sheriff’s Cpl. Jeff Frieze to reimburse him for the costs he took on after agreeing to take the other half of his K-9 unit home as a pet.
“It was very, very awesome,” Frieze said of the community’s support. “There are so many good people out there in Douglas County.”
Meth Task Force members took up the collection to help pay for Reggie’s surgery for cancer found in her mouth, and to help pay for her continued care. The surgery, which involved removing a portion of Reggie’s lower jaw in April, cost Frieze about $2,100.
Janet Judd, the task force’s executive director, said in April that Reggie served the community well by keeping drugs out of Douglas County after the group raised funds from the community to purchase her for the Sheriff’s Office.
This week, she said the outpouring of support from the community amazed those at United Way. Small donations, $10 here, $25 there, came pouring in.
“People would come in off the street with cash, and just throw it down and say, ‘Make sure that goes to Reggie,’” Judd said, adding that people are still donating.
Frieze has since learned that Reggie isn’t out of the woods yet. She needs monthly checkups for the next several months at Oregon State University’s small animal teaching hospital in Corvallis to test for cancer cells, and may possibly require further treatment.
Still, Frieze said Reggie has been adjusting well at home.
“It’s been a lot more fun and a lot less stress just having her as a member of the family and not a co-worker,” he said.
• You can reach reporter Chelsea Duncan at 957-4246 or by e-mail at cduncan@nrtoday.com.
