Lebanon police K9 loses long battle with cancer
Department mourns 10-year veteran
Department mourns 10-year veteran
The Lebanon Police Department is mourning a K9 officer.
Officers said K9 Max, a Belgian Malinois, was euthanized Monday after a long battle with cancer.
Max joined the police force in 2007 and was trained by Officer Jeremy Perkins.
Max was responsible for countless drug seizures, apprehensions and rescues, the department said.
He and Perkins won the Vermont Police K9 Patrol Team of the Year award on several occasions.
Max had several surgeries during the past year to remove cancerous tumors from his body.
Despite the cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment, Max continued to work until the end.
A week after a recent surgery, Max returned to the department.
He received a line of officers saluting as he arrived Monday afternoon at the Stonecliff Animal Hospital.
After he died, Max was given a last radio call before being escorted to a cruiser in a flag-draped casket.
He was given one last sendoff before being cremated.