This was filmed last Wednesday afternoon at Veterinary Clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The officer is Sergeant Paul Greer.
He is 41 years old.
A fourteen-year veteran of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The dog is Bruno.
A ten-year-old German Shepherd who worked for eight years as Paul's K9 partner before a joint disease ended his career two years ago.
When Bruno retired from active duty, Paul adopted him immediately.
Brought him home.
Bruno spent his retirement on Paul's couch, on Paul's bed, and in the passenger seat of Paul's personal truck.
The change from working partner to family companion was smooth and easy.
Bruno had always been Paul's dog.
The badge and the vest were simply part of the job.
Over the past several months, Bruno's condition had been getting worse.
The joint disease spread.
He had trouble standing up.
Stopped eating regularly.
Paul had been working with Dr. Angela Reese at Riverside for months to keep Bruno as comfortable as possible.
Last Tuesday evening, Bruno stopped getting up completely.
Paul called Dr. Reese that night.
Wednesday afternoon, Paul drove Bruno to Riverside.
He carried Bruno in from the truck himself.
Wouldn't let the staff carry him.
Paul's partner, Officer Dana Choi, came with him.
She quietly recorded on her phone from the corner of the room.
She later told us she asked Paul's permission before she started recording.
He nodded.
Paul sat on the exam table with Bruno resting across his lap and chest.
Bruno's head rested on Paul's shoulder.
His eyes were half open.
His breathing was slow and calm.
Paul lowered his head and pressed his face into Bruno's fur.
Bruno stayed still for a long moment.
Then slowly — carefully — he lifted both front paws.
One at a time.
And wrapped them around Paul's shoulders.
And held on.
Paul made a sound that Dana said she will never forget.
Dr. Reese, who was standing nearby getting ready, became completely still.
Her assistant stepped back.
Nobody moved.
Dana told us:
“Bruno could barely lift his head that morning.
But he lifted his paws and held Paul.
In that moment, with everything he had left, he held him.
I think he was saying thank you.
I think he was saying goodbye in his own way.”
Paul stayed in that position for a long time.
The room stayed quiet.
Bruno passed away peacefully a short time later while being held in Paul's arms.
Paul sent a message to his precinct group chat that evening.
It said:
“Bruno is at peace.
He was the best partner I ever had.
Eight years on the force and two years at home.
He worked hard, loved hard, and left this world the same way.
Holding on.”
The precinct held a small informal memorial the next morning.
Bruno's vest and badge number were framed and placed in the K9 unit hallway.
Some partners help carry you through the hardest years of your life.
And in the end, if you are very lucky, they find just enough strength to hold you one last time.
A Belgian Malinois who refused food and paced nonstop after his officer went down finally got his thirty-minute visit - and moved around every injury like he already knew exactly where they were.
“No one in the Middle East actually blocks intersections to pray in the streets and yell Allahu Akbar. They do it in your countries is because they're trying to assert their religious dominance over you and claim your country and turn it into Sharia law.”
@TinashePeter_ Just an advice to him.... Never go near any animal, never, especially my doggo.... Would go inquisition on anyone who even thinking about it/that sick shit....
The world is so backwards,
People are sympathizing with the guy who stabbed two Jews,
Instead of the actual victims?
A man who was still holding onto the knife!