New Hampshire State Police Trooper First Class Kevin Devlin with Wyatt. Courtesy photograph.)
New Hampshire State Police are mourning the loss of 10-year-old K-9 Wyatt who died last Tuesday after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that spread throughout his chest and lungs.
Wyatt, along with his handler, Trooper First Class Kevin Devlin, began their canine career on March 2, 2015, according to State Police. At eight weeks old, Wyatt, a Plott Hound, a breed known for its abilities to hunt bears in the mountains of North Carolina, who stood no taller than his handler’s knee, began training and became certified through the New England State Police Administrators Conference, specializing in search and rescue.
“At just six months old, K-9 Wyatt and Trooper First Class Devlin became an invaluable resource to the State of New Hampshire as they began bringing relief to so many families whose loved ones had gone missing,” police said in a release.
At just 10 months, Wyatt and Devlin took on greater responsibility when they began their training to become a team specializing in the recovery of human remains. Before reaching his first birthday, K-9 Wyatt became the youngest certified police canine in the history of the New Hampshire State Police to be trained and certified in both search and rescue and the detection of human remains.
“K-9 Wyatt was a cherished member of the New Hampshire State Police family, an essential part of the Canine Unit,” said Colonel Mark B. Hall. “Today we mourn his passing and remember his years of exemplary service. Trooper First Class Devlin and K-9 Wyatt were instrumental in bringing closure to families throughout New Hampshire and beyond. Our thoughts are with K-9 Wyatt’s handler, Trooper First Class Devlin, his family and all members of the Canine Unit.”
Devlin and Wyatt were involved in more than 500 calls throughout New Hampshire and were often called beyond state borders, assisting agencies across New England with some of the most high-profile cases in the last decade.
State Police thanked the staff at Port City Veterinary Hospital in Portsmouth, N.H., for their care and compassion.
K-9 Wyatt was escorted with honors to where he was laid to rest.