MONROE — A beloved police dog who has served Monroe for several years is struggling with a cancer diagnosis and his human partner, Jeremy Larson, is working to raise money for his special treatment.
Initially, Monroe K-9 officer Bane was diagnosed with cancer, a soft-tissue sarcoma, on his paw. That news was not great but it turned out to be treatable and prompted Larson to launch an effort to fund his treatment with the sale of T-shirts and through direct donations to the department’s K-9 fund.
The cancer was recently removed from Bane’s paw.
But last Wednesday, things took a turn for the worst when Bane was found to have an additional spot of bone cancer on his rib cage. They do not know the exact extent of the disease in Bane’s body and whether it will spread. But they do know treatment is expensive — the initial treatment and necessary scans are estimated at about $10,000.
Indeed, it is a big blow to Bane, Larson, and the local law enforcement community.
“He’s not a pet, he’s Jeremy’s partner,” said Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley. “He’s been a real plus for us and a good investment.”
Larson and Bane, a Belgian Malinois, first met in October 2019. A short time later, they bonded during a lengthy training session operated by Tarheel Canine Training Inc. in Sanford, North Carolina.
These days they work the streets together, but the dog also goes home with Larson and spends time there as a member of the family.
“He is with me 24/7, and I see him more than anyone else,” said Larson.
Life at home with Bane is structured — with specific play and training times, and even rules for when eating is allowed. But the K-9 otherwise gets to live a “normal” dog life when he goes home from work at the end of the day, just like any other hardworking cop.
Beyond the police task work like tracking missing persons or drug detecting, Bane is a great ambassador for the community, according to Kelley. And this community is especially close to its K-9 officers — the county has its own K-9 dog, too — because they are purchased, trained, and entirely funded with donations. The total cost for acquiring and training such a dog is in the $15,000 range.
So, the community has made the investment in him and gets to enjoy Bane’s company at civic events around town but as Larson has said, when duty calls its “all business when it’s time.”
Larson grew up with pets and knew that incorporating his love for dogs into his passion for law enforcement was a good fit for him. He has bonded thoroughly with Bane, so much so that his heart breaks at the thought of his furry partner suffering or no longer being able to do a job they love doing as a team.
To support Bane, T-shirts can be purchased at Heartland Graphics downtown and donations to the “K-9 Fund” are gratefully accepted at the Monroe Police Department. Larson is confident the people of Green County will help Bane with his cancer fight.
“This community always comes through,” Larson said.