Died – 9\/13\/16
\nHandler – Officer Mike Stone<\/p>\n
Retired police dog lives out bucket list<\/p>\n
A retired Marion police dog spent her final days reveling through a bucket list of favorite activities before she died Tuesday morning. Kahti lived with Marion officer Mike Stone and his wife, Alicia, after retirement. When her veterinarian said nothing further could be done for Kahti\u2019s cancer, the Stone family made a bucket list for her so she could go out with style. Although Mike and Alicia Stone were too heartbroken Tuesday for an interview, they chronicled Kahti\u2019s final days on social media. \u201cWe put all the things she loves on it and figured we would do one each day until she left us,\u201d Alicia Stone wrote. \u201cI don\u2019t think either of us realized how difficult and horribly heartbreaking completing this list was going to be.\u201d They took Kahti on a final cruise in the squad car with lights and siren. They fed her Skittles, black licorice, and a Rice Krispies bar. Kahti went for a ride in the back seat of a truck with her head resting on Alicia\u2019s shoulder. She was lifted onto a bed for one more night\u2019s sleep with Alicia. Alicia wrote she arose early each day as the clock ticked down. \u201cNot because I am a morning person all of a sudden or because I have things to do, but because I want to see my sweet girl for just a little longer,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI want to hug her and tell her I love her and that she is my best friend. I want to hear her snore and I want to feel her warm breath on my leg because, Lord forbid I don\u2019t let her snuggle with me on the couch while I drink my coffee.\u201cMy heart breaks a little more each day knowing that her end is near and there is nothing I can do about it. It is hard to love something so much, knowing full well that the day will come that she won\u2019t be there. We have been blessed to have so many wonderful memories of Kahti.\u201d Saturday, Kahti was tired and didn\u2019t move much. \u201cA few moments ago, I watched her attempt to jump on the bed, something that she used to be so proficient at, and she hit the side and fell,\u201d Alicia wrote. \u201cShe just can\u2019t do it anymore. And my heart hurts. So, my son and I picked her up and placed her on the bed where she can rest as I type this post. I sit here and look at her sweet face as her eyes close and I am reminded of how amazing she is.\u201d On Monday the Stones tried to steel themselves. \u201cTomorrow will be one of the hardest days I have had,\u201d Alicia wrote. \u201cKahti always has been and always will be our heart and soul.\u201d On Monday night, Alicia Stone slept on the floor with Kahti. Tuesday morning, she woke to find Kahti\u2019s paw tucked into her hand. On Tuesday morning, they made Kahti a special breakfast of ham, eggs, and coffee. \u201cI will be getting ready soon,\u201d Mike Stone wrote. \u201cBoots spit shined to a mirror finish, uniform starched to a stiff cardboard feel. Yet I know I\u2019m not ready yet. You know what makes it so hard for police or first responders for that matter? We are trained to fix and preserve. I can\u2019t fix or preserve this. That is the tough part. I have no control.\u201d<\/p>\n
By Phyllis Zorn
\nMarion County Record<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died – 9\/13\/16 Handler – Officer Mike Stone Retired police dog lives out bucket list A retired Marion police dog spent her final days reveling through a bucket list of favorite activities before she died Tuesday morning. Kahti lived with Marion officer Mike Stone and his wife, Alicia, after retirement. When her veterinarian said nothing …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2233,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[41],"class_list":["post-2230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-k9memorial","tag-ks"],"yoast_head":"\n