Police In El Segundo Trying To Raise Money For K-9 Officer In Medical Crisis

EL SEGUNDO (CBSLA.com) — Police in El Segundo are banding together to save one of their own.

The police are trying to raise money to help save the life of Ty, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois K-9 officer in medical crisis.

The vet says he needs a life-saving operation -- and there are no guarantees. Ty has Laryngeal Paralysis, a closing up of his breathing tube.

The K-9 officer retired last month. He now lives with his former police handler, Officer Cory McEnroe and his family.

To lose the dog? "It would be devastating," McEnroe told KCAL9's Rachel Kim.

McEnroe told Kim that Ty's condition took a turn for the worse after a day of training.

"Ty couldn't inhale at all," McEnroe remembers, "it really tore me up. I went to my car, I gave him a big kiss. The vet said he didn't know if Ty would make it."

McEnroe told Kim that Ty had an illustrious career. The Netherlands-born canine helped police make five violent busts, helped seize more than 100 pounds of illegal drugs and nab about $800,000 in cash.

Ty also helped make busts for US Homeland Security, Customs and Los Angeles Airport Police.