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Kids Help Pasco Canine Officer Root Out Cancer

Photo by Sherri Lonon

K-9 Sophie is back sniffing out clues thanks to the students who helped her battle cancer.

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By SHERRI LONON

In The Loop

Published: January 8, 2009

Bad guys hoping to get away with murder might have a harder time now that Sophie's back on the job.

Sophie, a yellow Labrador retriever trained in forensics work, earns her living and kibbles sniffing out clues that have put criminals behind bars. Although she is owned by Pasco County sheriff's Sgt. Troy Fergueson, Sophie does not report to that agency. She is, instead, a member of the nonprofit K9 Forensics and Cadaver Recovery Team.

Sophie's decorated career was put on hold May 5 when she was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma, an inoperable cancer in her urethra. To give her a chance at life, she would need to undergo extensive treatment that included a combination of surgical procedures and chemotherapy.

Wanting to save his beloved dog, Fergueson decided to take a leap of faith and racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills on his own. When the needs became greater than he could handle, Fergueson and the recovery team turned to the community for help.

The community responded.

Fergueson said donations have poured in from residents from across Pasco County and beyond. Fundraisers have been held on Sophie's behalf and prayers have been said in her name.

"It's been unbelievable," Fergueson said.

In Land O' Lakes, for example, Oakstead Elementary School recently hosted the Help Sophie Lick Cancer lollipop sale. That event, orchestrated by Christina Bouffard's fifth-grade class, raised $848 in two days to help offset the costs associated with Sophie's care at the University of Florida.

Bouffard said she had read an article about Sophie's plight and "was in tears by the end of the story. Emotionally, I wanted to do something to help Troy and Sophie."

Knowing her students had been learning the importance of "paying it forward," she turned to them for help. The idea for the lollipop sale sprang to life. Before the event, letters went home to parents, Sophie was discussed on the school's morning news program and a sense of excitement permeated the Lake Patience Road campus.

Just how successful the fifth-graders would be floored Bouffard.

"The response was just amazing," she said. "People wanted to help. People wanted to contribute. People were touched by Sophie's story."

Bouffard purchased 600 lollipops to sell at 50 cents each, thinking this would be enough for the entire sale. By 11 a.m. on the first day, 500 lollipops had been sold. She had to call her husband, Brian, at work and have him pick up more.

"We ended up selling 1,200 lollipops."

Thanks to efforts such as Oakstead's and the canine cancer specialists at the University of Florida, Sophie is now back at work. Fergueson said her cancer is clinically in remission. The tumor has shrunk by an estimated 80 percent.

Although she is still undergoing chemotherapy monthly, Fergueson is happy to report she is active.

The community's assistance has touched Fergueson, who has tried to respond to every letter and donation he has received.

While Sophie's medical expenses are paid to date, Fergueson said any future money raised on her behalf will go into a fund to help pay for continued care, if necessary, and to help other dogs on the team if they become ill or suffer injury.

The team is made up of four law enforcement officers from Pasco and Hernando counties, a civilian Certified Master Dog Trainer and a civilian canine team leader. Members and their dogs volunteer their time to help law enforcement agencies in a number of ways. The dogs are specifically trained to locate human cadavers, find human remains and uncover human forensics evidence.

"They are the 'CSI' of the canines," explained Fergueson, adding that the team offers its services at no charge.

To learn more about Sophie, the K9 Forensics Recovery Team and how to help out, visit www.k9forensicsteam .com.

While Sophie is momentarily out of the woods, Fergueson said, "there's nothing exact about the science of fighting cancer. We certainly need your prayers."

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