Tweet
Cocaine blamed for sniffer dog death
A crime-fighting sniffer dog who helped put scores of drug offenders behind bars has died of nasal cancer which may have been caused by his police work.
Heroic springer spaniel Max is believed to be Britain's first known victim of canine cocaine-induced cancer. Seven years of sniffing out class A drugs contributed to his death, his vet and police handler fear.
'It is ironic that the wonderful organ that made him successful in his work has been his demise,' said Insp Anne Higgins. 'Up until a couple of weeks ago he seemed fine and was doing really well but it was an aggressive tumour. 'I took him into the station, which he usually loved and it was his favourite place but that day he did not show any reaction to being there and we knew then he was not right. He was a fighter until the end and always very dignified.'
Max was put down at Tiverton police station, in Devon, on Sunday. 'It was very hard but we had to do it,' said Insp Higgins. Kate Fairclough, who was Max's vet since 2006, said: 'Sniffing drugs could well have been a factor – I certainly cannot rule it out.
'Nose cancer in dogs is not all that common only about one to two per cent of all cancers in dogs affect the nose. He was a lovely dog.'
Max was forced to retire from Avon and Somerset Police last November after suffering a hip complaint. But his running days were far from over after he was fitted with a chariot-style set of wheels to get around on.
"I blame the dealers who gave him the coke, they don't care how many lives they destroy."
- Frank Gray, Leeds, Yorkshire
Maybe i could become Max's replacement, i wouldnt mind sniffin for dugs all day and get away with it!
- Anon, UK
A crime-fighting sniffer dog who helped put scores of drug offenders behind bars has died of nasal cancer which may have been caused by his police work.
Heroic springer spaniel Max is believed to be Britain's first known victim of canine cocaine-induced cancer. Seven years of sniffing out class A drugs contributed to his death, his vet and police handler fear.
'It is ironic that the wonderful organ that made him successful in his work has been his demise,' said Insp Anne Higgins. 'Up until a couple of weeks ago he seemed fine and was doing really well but it was an aggressive tumour. 'I took him into the station, which he usually loved and it was his favourite place but that day he did not show any reaction to being there and we knew then he was not right. He was a fighter until the end and always very dignified.'
Max was put down at Tiverton police station, in Devon, on Sunday. 'It was very hard but we had to do it,' said Insp Higgins. Kate Fairclough, who was Max's vet since 2006, said: 'Sniffing drugs could well have been a factor – I certainly cannot rule it out.
'Nose cancer in dogs is not all that common only about one to two per cent of all cancers in dogs affect the nose. He was a lovely dog.'
Max was forced to retire from Avon and Somerset Police last November after suffering a hip complaint. But his running days were far from over after he was fitted with a chariot-style set of wheels to get around on.
"I blame the dealers who gave him the coke, they don't care how many lives they destroy."
- Frank Gray, Leeds, Yorkshire
Maybe i could become Max's replacement, i wouldnt mind sniffin for dugs all day and get away with it!
- Anon, UK
And look who's smiling 
Comment