K9 Dixie – Barnesville, Ohio

1st Handler – Oficer Benjamin Neuhardt
2nd Handler – Officer Andrew Stewart
Retired Barnesville K9 Dixie dies

Dixie, a retired K9 with the Barnesville Police Department, has died after a recent diagnosis with cancer. Dixie was nearly 10 years of age.Dixie started her career in 2014 with her handler Benjamin Neuhardt and in 2016 she partnered up with Officer Andrew Stewart. The two worked with each other until 2020 when she retired and spent her last days with him. “She became my partner from the first day until the last,” Stewart said. “Dixie filled a void in my life that I didn’t know existed. “At that moment when we first met, I knew I’d be willing to lay my life down to save hers if it ever came to that.”Stewart thanked the mass amount of community and world support that helped Dixie receive all that she needed.Arrangements are being made by Campbell Plumly Milburn Funeral Home.

Submitted By Jim Cortina

James A. Cortina has been involved with police dogs since 1972 and currently on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Jim has been appointed as Treasurer since its inception in 1991. Jim is one of the charter members of the C.P.W.D.A. organization. Since 1975 he has been a certified professional dog trainer and received his Master Trainer Certification in 1985. During his career he has provided armed K-9 strike crowd control for security agencies in Connecticut and out of state security companies. In conjunction with other members of the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. Board of Directors, he helped to draft Connecticut Statute 53-247(e) "Intentional Injury or Killing of Police K-9" which was passed by the Senate in 1993 and also assisted in implementing the prestigious Daniel Wasson Memorial K-9 Award in 1992. In 1993 he helped coordinate the North American Police Work Dog Association Nationals in New London, Connecticut. He was appointed Training Director for the New London County Work Dog Association from 1985-1987. He performed decoy work for Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc. in police K-9 demonstrations, trained several local police department canines, and coordinated training workshops for out-of-state police departments. He participated in the United States Police K-9 Association Trials in Croton on Hudson, New York in 1985 as a decoy. He is an avid photographer and received photography awards in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and currently takes photographs for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Inc.