Retired Massachusetts K-9 chosen to receive lifetime medical benefits [Video]

A retired Massachusetts State Police K-9 is one of the latest working dogs to be selected by a national nonprofit organization to receive medical benefits for the rest of his life.K-9 Odin, an 8-year-old German Shepherd, retired this past July after spending seven years with the department assigned to Sgt. Nick Favaloro in 2021 after Odin’s previous handler had to leave the specialized unit. Toward the end of his career with the Massachusetts State Police, Odin was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in his elbows, requiring monthly injections that cost more than $200 per injection.”When we’re on the job, obviously, everything is covered by the state police,” Favaloro said in a sit-down interview with Newscenter5 at the department headquarters in Framingham. “When the dog retires, we agree to take over responsibility for everything.”And that means all medical costs are paid out of pocket.Favaloro began researching organizations that help with the medical …