K9 Deki receives new bullet proof vest

Houston County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Dixson and his K9 partner Deki received a special donation Thursday. 

Perry residents, Richard Segrave and his wife Mary Ona Segrave, purchased a bulletproof vest for K9 Deki. Richard said he and his wife watch a lot of different police shows and noticed that most of the K9s did not have vests.

“We’re dog lovers,” Richard said. “And so after watching a few different shows, my wife and I said we at least have to help one of our local dogs. They are out there protecting us and putting their lives on the line just like the police officers are.”

When the Segraves called the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and explained how they wanted to help, they also requested a special momentum to be placed on the vest, which was the name of their late grandson, Nolan Richard Vachon.

“Our grandson passed away a few years ago; he died in an accident,” Richard said. “We wanted to place his name on the vest in his memory, and I am so grateful to the Sheriff’s Office for allowing us to do so.”

Dixson came to the Segraves’ home Thursday to show them the vest. Dixson explained that the vest weighs about five pounds and will protect Deki from all different calibers of bullets. Dixson has been with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office now for 14 years and said he is going on his third year with having Deki as his K9 partner. Deki is trained in tracking and narcotics.

“This is an amazing blessing to us,” Dixson said. “These dogs are not protected when we’re out running through the woods with them. I care for him like I do a human, and receiving this vest, we can’t say thank you enough.”

“We’re happy to do this, and we hope that this encourages other people to look into it,” Richard said. “Whether you do it yourself or get a group of people together, it’s absolutely worth it because again, they are out there on the job protecting us.”