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Health & Fitness

Memorial Day: Remebering Local NAPD Police K-9 Dog "Eiko"

Local police K-9 that died in the line of duty.

On this Memorial Day weekend when we are enjoying time with our families, cookouts and attending parades, let’s not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.  It is a day that commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service.

Well, let’s even take it a step further.   Let’s not forget our Military, Police and Fire K-9 units.   Continuously overshadowed and almost always forgotten, our Law enforcement, Military, Federal, State and local all have dogs that service as officers.    These dogs defend and protect not only their handler but us.  They truly are the front line responders.  They are the first ones on a search and rescue, leading a ground attack or even going into a burning building.  In fact, K-9’s were brought from all over the United States and were an intricate part of the search and recovery on our devastating 9/11.

But did you know locally we had our own K-9 die in the line of duty?  Well, the locals probably do, now that I mentioned it some others will remember, however most of you in North Andover just never knew.     

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Eiko a 3yr old German shepherd was working a call on January 28, 2006.  He and his Handler Sgt. Gray got the call of an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven on Winthrop Avenue in Lawrence.  Eiko was tracking a suspect along the banks of the Shawsheen River, when going through piles of debris, suffered an injury that would end his life.   Eiko received several bad cuts along the inside of his mouth.  Not even realizing this and knowing he needed to perform the job he was trained to do, Eiko continued on with his search.   The next morning Gray noticed blood coming out along the side of Eiko’s mouth.  He immediately took Eiko to the veterinarian hospital.  After oral surgery and stitches, all thought Eiko was on his way to recovery.   Within a couple weeks Eiko even returned to work.  Unfortunately, the infection had already spread into the bloodline.  Although Eiko emotionally trie,d physically his body had succumbed to his injury.   Eiko lost his battle.  

For the NAPD this was a very quiet and somber day, for those in the community it was a day of realization.  Police K-9 dogs really are officers and the Town of North Andover lost one of their own and for the Gray family it was a day of heartbreak.

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I remember this all too clearly. I read about, heard about it and watched each step take place.  At that time I was taking my animal massage classes at Bancroft, the day of class I happened to read an article written to a local paper.  It wasn’t something I expected to see and to this day I remember each word so clearly.  Sgt Gray’s wife Melissa wrote about the entire situation, the outcome and how it tremendously affected their family.  I read that letter to my class.  A room full of fifteen students that didn’t even know the Gray family or Eiko nor did any of them except me lived in North Andover;  after I read Melissa’s letter, there was silence and a room full of tears.    This was more than just a four legged animal doing a job,  Sgt. Gray lost his partner and Melissa and Chuck lost a family member.         

 Eiko was the first police K-9 to die in the line of duty in Massachusetts in nearly 15yrs.

Since Eiko’s passing in 2006, an additional sixteen police K-9 dogs have died.  Some from natural causes and some from injuries from their job.   On this Memorial Day I ask you  all to say a prayer for  every person and DOG that has served to protect you and your family.   ~Enjoy

   

 

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