Page 19 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Police therapy dog Zeke dies from cancer

By Sarah Shurge passed on Monday,” said Chief
The youngest member of the Strong.
Wayne Police Department has passed Not only Chief Strong, but the en-
away. Zeke, the Wayne Police Depart- tire department has felt the loss of
ment's therapy dog, died Monday, Zeke.
October 3rd, after a short battle with “I always was aware of the impact
cancer. Zeke had on employees, but after he
“It is just absolutely heartbreak- passed, I had employees reach out to
ing,” said Wayne Police Chief Ryan say the impact he had on them,” said
Strong. “I’ve lost other dogs, but it’s Chief Strong. “Several people said
just nothing like this. Zeke was a re- Zeke was their favorite coworker.”
ally good dog. He understood his job At the City of Wayne’s last council
and took it seriously. The impact he meeting on Tuesday, October 18th,
had on the community.” Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa honored
Zeke joined the Wayne Police De- Zeke with a photo and plaque. The
partment in 2019 to provide comfort photo will be hung in the police de-
to police officers, staff, crime victims, partment.
and more. “Zeke showed no judgment, no
According to Alliance of Therapy stigma, and there was nothing there
Dogs (ATD), therapy dogs can reduce except a pure connection with every-
stress and anxiety, provide compan- one who crossed paths with him,”
ionship, and help people get through said Lisa Nocerini, Wayne City Man-
emotionally trying times. ager. “Zeke brought so much to the
“Police work is very stressful. We Police Department and the entire city.
see people on the worst day of their He will be fondly remembered. I
lives,” said Chief Strong. “It’s hard to miss him terribly.”
have a frown on your face when Local 4 and Hometown Life wrote
there's a good-looking Golden Re- a piece about Zeke joining the force
triever walking up to you with a wag- in December 2019, and both Fox 2
ging tail.” and CBS wrote an article about
Therapy dogs must undergo obe- Zeke’s passing in October 2022.
dience testing, veterinarian certifica- “Seeing him honored in the com-
tion, and observation from trained munity and the news, it was comfort-
testers in various settings, the de- ing and humbling that he made this
partment said. wide ranging impact,” said Chief
ATD provides support to those Strong. “I received nothing but sup-
who use dogs to visit nursing homes, port from the city for the therapy dog
hospitals, schools and other facili- program.”
ties where a dog could provide com- Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong lost his dog Zeke to cancer last month. The therapy dog program does
fort to others. plies, veterinarian checks, and mem- Chief Strong. not end with Zeke. Zeke has already
Zeke received 24 weeks of obedi- bership to the ATD was covered by Zeke was only 6 years old when inspired therapy dog programs at
ence training before being given an Chief Strong. Zeke lived with Chief it was discovered that he had He- multiple other police departments.
obedience test. After that, he under- Strong, so there was no cost to the mangiosarcoma. This is an ex- “Six or eight other departments
went a series of observations by ATD city involved in making Zeke a ther- tremely aggressive type of cancer have reached out to me on how to
while visiting various public places, apy dog. that attacks the body through blood create the therapy dog program at
such as a hospital and a psychiatric “Zeke took his job very seriously. vessels. their department. One department
facility. He was also observed at the He'd make his rounds around the “It happened in a matter of one from another state too,” said Chief
police department. precinct. He worked a 10-hour day week. He hadn’t been eating that Strong. Zeke will not be the last ther-
The cost for training, dog sup- three days before he died,” said week, worked all day on Friday and apy dog at Wayne Police Department.
“It's a very important program.
He brought joy to employees and the
community. Everyone in the commu-
nity loved seeing him,” said Chief
Strong. “He made it easier for me
and the police department to get
through the past couple years.”
If anyone wishes to honor Zeke’s
memory, please consider donating to
First Step. Their Ark programs allow
survivors of domestic and sexual as-
sult to stay with their pets in a safe
Mayor Rhaesa on behalf of the council and city administration presented a portrait of Zeke to Police Chief Ryan Strong and his place. You can donate by visiting:
officers at a city council meeting last month. firststep-mi.org/donatenow/.
The Wayne Dispatch · November 2022 · 19