[Purple]

Retired police dogs received a pension of sorts on Saturday, thanks to a $1 million donation to Pets Unlimited in honor of Sgt. Darryl Tsujimoto, who died last year during a training exercise.

The donation by San Francisco philanthropist Nina Ireland to the city's oldest nonprofit animal shelter and veterinary clinic will help provide care for countless animals, including retired police dogs, officials said.

Ireland made the donation in honor of Tsujimoto, who led the San Francisco police Canine Unit until he suffered a heart attack and died May 1, 2006, during a training exercise. He was 41.

The Canine Unit won numerous gold medals in national competitions under Tsujimoto's leadership. He also had served at several stations around the city and on the narcotics and vice units during his 15-year career.

"The San Francisco Police Department is gratified and honored by this wonderfully generous endowment that will also go toward helping our retired Canine Unit dogs after their years of dedicated and tireless hard work," Chief Heather Fong said in a statement.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...ed=rss.bayarea