A fallen police dog has received a touching tribute. After Hondo, part of the K-9 unit for the Herriman (Utah) Police Department was killed in the line of duty, police officers decided to commemorate a truly special dog.
The bond is strong.
Police dogs and their handlers form tight bonds during their time serving together. Just like police officers themselves, police dogs often find themselves in dangerous situations. Unfortunately, they sometimes don’t make it out alive.
R.I.P. Hondo.
Hondo, a very good boy from the Herriman PD’s K-9 unit, was shot earlier this month while assisting with an arrest. Veterinarians did everything they could, but Hondo died of his wound.
Police put in a rush order.
They contacted Rawtin Garage a custom paint shop, with an urgent request: a casket to bury Hondo in, one that would honor Hondo’s personality and bravery in the line of duty.
It was a rush order.
“[The police] asked if we could get something together since we have done work on their motorcycles before,” garage owner John Ward told CNN. Just 24 hours after starting, the casket was complete.
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Here’s the end result.
The finished design prominently features a gorgeous portrait of Hondo. According to the Herriman PD, the seven-year-old Belgian Malinois took part in over a hundred felony arrests during his five-year career.
R.I.P., Hondo.
The bond was evident when Herriman PD Chief Troy Carr tearfully discussed the tragedy earlier this month. “PSD Hondo was a true warrior,” he said .
The casket is full of personal touches.
In addition to the big portrait of Hondo, the artists at Rawtin Garage included other flourishes, including a thin blue line flag along with the logo of the K-9 unit.
The tribute went viral.
On the Facebook thread posted by Rawtin Garage, locals and other police officers paid their respects to Hondo while praising the hard work of the artists who made the casket happen.
He was a good boy.
Anyone who’s lost a beloved pet knows the kind of hold they can have on our hearts. Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to check out the thread on Facebook .
