Died – 3\/6\/18
\nHandler – Lt. Steve Lewis<\/p>\n
Police officer mourns the loss of retired K9 due to heartworm<\/p>\n
For more than four years, Oxford Police Department\u2019s K9 dog Major helped apprehend criminals thinking they could escape the long arm of the law. He sniffed out narcotics hidden by drug dealers and charmed crowds during demonstrations of his skills. For 10 years, he\u2019s also been a loyal companion and friend to his handler, Lt. Steve Lewis. On Tuesday, Lewis and his family had to say goodbye to their cherished furry family member when Major died due to complications from heartworms. Major, a Dutch shepherd, was assigned to Lewis in 2008 and the two worked together until 2012 when Major retired. \u201cI was promoted to sergeant and so Major was retired,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cHe was already five years old and it would take another year for him to adjust to a new handler so they let him retire and remain with me. He was already having some issues with his hips. K9s work hard and the work can take a toll after a few years.\u201d Major became a pet and enjoyed his life of leisure with Lewis, his wife, Melanie and their two children. \u201cHe was spoiled rotten,\u201d Lewis said, chuckling softly. \u201cHe just relaxed and laid around and enjoyed life.\u201d Despite being given heartworm prevention every month, Major still contracted the parasites. \u201cWe had to document everything, which was a good thing, because the company that made the heartworm prevention paid for his first treatment,\u201d Lewis said. However, even the best heartworm treatments generally only stall the process. Major\u2019s health deteriorated over the last year. No longer wishing to watch his beloved dog suffer, the decision was made to put Major down. \u201cMy vet, Dr. Lee Payne and everyone at the Animal Clinic of Oxford were really professional and caring and respectful,\u201d Lewis said. Major was laid to rest in the K9 cemetery, located on a hill that overlooks the F.D. \u201cBuddy\u201d East Training Complex. The area was dedicated as a cemetery for all local K9s two years ago. In the cemetery is a large, marble marker that reads, \u201cMy eyes are your eyes \u2014 to watch and protect you. My ears are your ears \u2014 to detect evil minds in the dark. My nose is your nose \u2014 to scent the invader of your domain. So that you may live, my life is yours.\u201d Lewis worked at OPD in 1995 through 1997 and then became a game warden with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife until 2007 when he returned to OPD. He was given Major when he just about a year old and the two spent about six months together before Major was officially put to work. They spent the time learning about each other and learning to trust each other. \u201cYou have to get to know them \u2013 how they alert, their little hints and clues they give,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cIt takes a little time and effort to get used to each other.\u201d Major did mostly narcotic detection work; however, he was often put out to search for people. \u201cThere was a bank robbery in Water Valley a few years ago and the suspect was hiding out in a trailer on Woodson Ridge Road,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cMe and Major went out there and the suspect ran out the back door into the woods, but Major caught him and we apprehended the suspect.\u201d Lewis said that while he and his family are grieving the loss of Major, he is thankful for the years they had together \u2013 both as a partner and as a member of his family.\u201cHe was my child, my teddy bear, my peace of mind while I was on duty,\u201d Lewis wrote in a memorial to Major. \u201cHe was my eyes, ears, and nose in the dark and places I couldn\u2019t see. He was a partner to be proud of as he won the Narcotic Detector Dog Competition in his prime. He had a nose that never quit. He was well trained and well behaved, the most\u202fobedient dog we\u2019ve ever had and will ever have. He always looked at me with the most adoration. He was my children\u2019s sibling, playmate and peace of mind while on duty with their Daddy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Died – 3\/6\/18 Handler – Lt. Steve Lewis Police officer mourns the loss of retired K9 due to heartworm For more than four years, Oxford Police Department\u2019s K9 dog Major helped apprehend criminals thinking they could escape the long arm of the law. He sniffed out narcotics hidden by drug dealers and charmed crowds during …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4755,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[40],"class_list":["post-4753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-k9memorial","tag-ms"],"yoast_head":"\n