
Honoring our K9 Heroes
Donation protected
A friend of mine, Mark Wagner is employed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. He was recently transferred from the K-9 Unit after being promoted to sergeant about a year ago. His agency retired his K-9 partner EROS to him and his family upon his transfer. What an awesome agency he works for! K9 Eros enjoyed the retirement life and was a big part of Mark's family.
On Monday, May 14, 2018, Eros was not himself. Mark recognized this behavior as a medical emergency and immediately took him to the vet for evaluation. Mark called the vet (Germantown-Farmington Animal Hospital) and told them he was on the way. When he arrived with his wife Ashley and K9 Eros, the staff was standing outside waiting for him. Tests quickly confirmed that Eros' stomach had flipped, and he required emergency surgery.
The veterinary staff was amazing, and the surgery was a success. However, Eros was unable to recover and died peacefully at home with his family by his side. Mark and his family decided to bury Eros at Dixie Memorial Pet Gardens in Millington, TN. Barbara Wells of Dixie Memorial was incredible. Ms. Wells graciously donates a casket, plot, or cremation and the use of her facilities at no cost to the handler or agency for working or service dogs. These dogs are buried in a special section of the cemetery called the "Honor Garden". In return for these services provided, Ms. Wells respectfully requests that the agency or handler place a headstone at the gravesite. Over the years, several heros have been forgotten and have gone without. Mark and his wife Ashley pledged to Barbara that they would raise the necessary funds to put headstones on every single dog's gravesite as a way to honor Eros, so they may be recognized as the honor garden was designed to do.
I called to check on Mark and his family to see how they were doing with the loss of Eros. He said that everyone was grieving but doing ok and explained to me what he had been working on and why it was so important to him. He asked me for my help and I am happy to help my friend reach his goal of $10,000. All donations will be greatly appreciated.
Special thanks to Dr. Leonard Batey, DVM, Dr. Shellie Antey-Thompson, DVM and staff (Germantown-Farmington Animal Hospital, PLLC), Mr. Barbara Wells (Dixie Memorial Pet Gardens), Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham, Chief Deputy Floyd Bonner, Jr., Lt. John Rada (Shelby County Sheriff's Office), Sgt. Ray Brenner and Deputy Cedric Leake (Shelby County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit), Sgt. Shannon Bowen (Memphis Police Department K9 Unit), Officer Christian Schaumburg (Bartlett Police Department K9 Unit), and many heartfelt thanks to all family, friends and animal lovers!
http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/38224734/former-k9-officer-laid-to-rest
http://www.dixiememorialpetcemetery.com
http://www.gfah.net/
Organizer and beneficiary
Samantha Baldwin
Organizer
Corpus Christi, TX
Mark Wagner
Beneficiary