K9 Andor is pictured with his handler, PCPD Officer Josh Hirtzinger. Andor passed away at the end of his working shift on June 18 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of lymphoma. PCPD Chief McKee said 7-year-old Andor was a beloved member of the Plain City community.
(Photo submitted)
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Officials at Plain City Police Department are planning funeral arrangements for K9 Andor after he passed away following a cancer diagnosis.
PCPD Chief Dale McKee wrote in a statement that on June 6, K9 Andor and his handler, Officer Josh Hirtzinger, were participating in routine training when Hirtzinger “noticed a change in Andor’s behavior.”
K9 Andor was transported to the Plain City Animal Hospital and examined by Dr. Daniel Lynn, who diagnosed Andor with an aggressive form of lymphoma.
“At that time, Andor was given a very grim estimate of no more than three months to live,” according to the statement.
McKee said Lynn, who has donated Andor’s veterinary care since his first day with PCPD, encouraged the police department to allow Andor to continue to work active duty to whatever degree he could handle.
“Dr. Lynn characterized the patrol vehicle and K9 patrol as Andor’s ‘happy place’ and felt that Andor should continue working as long as he could physically handle it,” the statement included.
After receiving news of Andor’s diagnosis, the Division of Police Command Staff met with Hirtzinger and “unanimously decided” that Andor would continue to work in whatever capacity he was able to.
“We expected to have a few more months to digest and process this news and to determine end of life plans,” McKee wrote. “Unfortunately, Andor only had about 12 days left and passed away near the end of his working shift on (June 18).”
Andor was a 7-year-old German Shepard who joined the Division of Police in March 2018.
McKee called him a beloved member of PCPD and the Plain City community who was responsible for many searches, criminal apprehensions, drug alerts and arrests. He said Andor made the village and surrounding communities a safer place.
Andor also participated in many community engagement events where residents ranging from children to the elderly were able to interact with him and witness his skills.
“Officer Hirtzinger and his family are grieving, as are all of us at the Division of Police,” McKee wrote, also asking community members to keep the family and PCPD in their thoughts and prayers.
McKee noted that funeral planning is underway and details will be released soon.