At 14-and-a-half years old, Reign was a police K-9 with a decorated career. The German Shepherd worked side-by-side with Detective Rosario Savastra for the West Hartford, Connecticut Police Department for six years.
On May 25, the department announced on their Facebook page that the honorable Reign had passed away.
In addition to sharing photos of Reign, the post mentioned the work the dog did for the community, including patrolling, tracking and narcotics detection. “Reign was an asset to our department and we honor him today and thank him for his service,” the department added.
And the officers didn’t just share heartfelt words for their companion on social media.
As reported by local news affiliate Fox 61, the K-9 received a fitting final tribute from his peers on his final trip to the vet: one last ride in a police cruiser.
Driven Savastra, by his partner and owner, and saluted by two dozen West Hartford police and personnel, Reign got the hero’s send-off he deserved (watch the tear-jerking news segment, which features the final ride, here).
Savastra and fellow officers described Reign as a serious, hard-working dog with many successful missions in the field and a sensitive, loving, and social soul when he was at home or around the station.
As Savastra told Fox 61, “It’s hard to put into words, because he was everything. He was a great police dog.”
Image via West Hartford Police Department Facebook
Aly Semigran is a lifestyle writer for the world and roommate of Ruby, the cutest dog in the world.
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