During the 10 years that K9 Hunter served the Middletown Police Department, he’s helped Connecticut police officers to locate missing persons, narcotics, drug dealers, and other criminals.
So, it’s only fitting that the police dog had a proper send off fit for someone who served on the police force.
Hunter’s partner Officer Michael D’Aresta had to make a difficult choice after he found out that Hunter became sick.
“Officer Michael D’Aresta unfortunately has to make the toughest decision any K9 handler dreads making this evening at Pieper Olson in Middletown at 1830 hours,” Middletown Police’s K-9 Supervisor Sgt. Doug Clark wrote on the their Facebook page. “K9 Hunter has been ill for that past several days and when tests were conducted they revealed that K9 Hunter has a very aggressive form of liver cancer. They unfortunately recommended that he be euthanized.”
The local police department decided they would all pay their respects to Hunter on his final trip to the veterinarian. They all lined up on either side of the walkway and saluted Hunter as D’Aresta carried him past his fellow officers.
D’Aresta looked emotional as he carried the dog and at one point buried his face into his dog’s fur.
“Officer D’Aresta and Hunter have been an exceptional team serving the City of Middletown in a high caliber since 2007,” Clark wrote. “So as you can imagine, this is extremely difficult for Mike and his family.”
Hunter was a valuable member of the Connecticut Police department during his time on the force.
He helped officers with a drug bust in July and helped to located an elderly woman with dementia two years ago, according to FOX News.
“Hunter and Officer D’Aresta have been such a huge part of our department the past 10 years,” Clark said. “Such a dedicated K-9 team. It will never be the same. Rest in Peace Hunter you’ve done well. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Michael D’Aresta and his family.”
The photos of Hunter’s tribute were posted online and touched many on social media where the post got more than 6,000 likes.
Many shared their condolences for the family on Facebook.
“To the Middletown police and D’Aresta families, I’m very sorry to hear the sad news of K9 Hunter’s passing,” one person wrote. “To K9 Hunter, thank you so much for your years of dedicated and fantastic service to Middletown and Connecticut sweet boy. You are loved, you are missed and you will never be forgotten. May you enjoy life beyond the Rainbow Bridge, still watching out for your colleagues and family from your new jurisdiction.”
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