This is an interesting story (via Wesley Smith) about an arthritic police dog whose “career” was saved thanks to stem cells taken from his own fat. I guess it’s not just humans who can benefit from carrying a little extra weight. Jargo is the dog’s name. Before the treatments he had a hard time even standing up on his own and medications were not as effective as they hoped. He still had a pretty hard time on the job and wasn’t able to perform the regular duties expected of a police dog. Now, after the stem cell treatments:

“He improved dramatically,” Zikes (Dr. Cindy Zikes at the Surgical Medical Specialty Clinic for Animals in Beaverton) said. “He’s a gorgeous dog.

“Looking at him now, you’d never know that he had to have this treatment. The potential of this stem cell therapy is really exciting.”

Within 12 days, Jago was back on patrol and showing signs of huge improvement.

“It was amazing,” Magnus (Jargo’s partner on the police force) said. “I feel like I got my dog back.

“His energy and personality returned. He regained his playfulness. He started to jump up on me again and run around on the grass. Things I almost forgot that he would do.”

In the 2 1/2 years that Jargo has worked as a K-9 partner he has helped to capture more than three dozen suspects and even saved his partner from a fight a couple of times. Needless to say, it is good that Jargo will possibly be returning to the workforce.