A retired K-9 officer that worked at the Orlando International Airport as a trained explosives detection dog needs the public's help.
Sinda has cancer. Doctors said they detected a large malignant tumor protruding out of Sinda's ear canal, spreading throughout the K-9's ear and jaw.
Sinda will need surgery and radiation soon in order to survive, but the treatment will cost $12,000, which neither her insurance nor the airport are able to cover.
"As soon as she hears me putting on my uniform, she knows it's time to go to work, she starts spinning around," said handler Paulo Maurtua. "She's trained to sniff anything from luggage to vehicles cargo, aircraft."
Sinda was in the prime of her career, until two weeks ago when she went to the vet.
"It's eating up the inside of her jaw," said Maurtua.
Doctors said Sinda can recover with surgery, but will not be able to return to work.
The airport provided all of her veterinary care and food until Friday when she retired and Maurtua became her owner.
"I'll just do anything I have to do to take care of her. When the government is involved, it's a little bit slower process," said Maurtua. "There's a lot of people out there that want to see these dogs have benefits."
Some ideas are to fund those benefits with drugs or money seized, but Sinda is not trained to find either.
"These dogs don't have a monetary value. It's more of just safeguarding the public when they do travel," Maurtua said.
Maurtua said he cannot put a price tag on Sinda's life.
"She'll get the surgery done, even if I have to break my bank account to do it," he said.
Sinda needs the surgery, followed by radiation by next week or the cancer may spread too far for any chance of recovery.
"If any anyone has ever used Orlando International Airport (MCO), it's thanks to Sinda and other great K-9s and security that we are kept safe by ensuring there are no explosives in any place in and around the airport. It's our time to express our gratitude and give back. I strongly believe K-9s in highly important, critical roles, should be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve for their honorable service," said Maurtua's friend, Ricardo Garcia.
Maurtua has set up a GoFundMe account in hopes of raising the money to cover Sinda's treatment.
