November 11, 2005: "Kikkert" passed away on Friday, November 11, 2005 at the age of 14. "Kikkert" spent 9 years on the street with Officer Todd Bledsoe of the Leavenworth Kansas Police Department. "Kikkert" had developed arthritis and was discovered to have a tumor on his spleen that was very aggressive in growth. It was causing internal bleeding and a low red blood cell count. He really slowed down in the last three weeks, but had the job in him up to the last moment.

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
-- Author Unknown