LCSO Chief Deputy Michael Mullins welcomes new K9 to the team
By Abigail Roberts
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is welcoming a new K9 to the team – K9 Major.
Major is an 11-month old Dutch Shepherd who was purchased with a matching $5,000 grant from the National Police Dog Foundation. Thanks to community donations, including $3,500 from the City of Stanford, Chief Deputy Michael Mullins was able to purchase the new K9.
Thanks to the local Agency for Substance Abuse Policy board, the initial training for K9 Major and Mullins has been paid for, as well.
It’s bittersweet for Mullins, as he just said goodbye to his partner K9 Luma who was euthanized after being diagnosed with an aggressive bone cancer. The community stepped up and provided her and Mullins with an emergency services escort to her final resting place.
Mullins said he plans to continue the work him and Luma did with the new K9.
“Although I’m Chief Deputy, I still have to get out here and find the drugs,” Mullins said. “That’s what we started doing in 2018 and we haven’t slowed down since.”
Mullins said the community has shown a lot of support.
“I just really appreciate the community’s support that they’ve shown us dealing with Luma’s passing and the support to get a new dog,” he said. “I appreciate Dannie and Donnie for doing the fundraiser.”
Mullins is scheduled to go down to Daytona Beach, Fla. to train with K9 Major in late November.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
A K9 fundraiser event has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. to help raise money to K9 Major’s ongoing training and equipment, as well as the future purchase of another K9 when a member of the team retires soon.
Live music will be provided by the Gilliam Brothers, Dannie and Donnie Gilliam. There will also be free hotdogs and hamburgers available. All are welcome.
The fundraiser will take place on the new back porch of the Lincoln County Courthouse.
