K-9 Officer Hunter served the Middletown Police Department in Connecticut for ten years prior to receiving his cancer diagnosis alongside his partner Michael D’Aresta and their coworkers.

And on his final day on Earth, they wanted him to know exactly how much they adore him.

During his stint on the force, Hunter put his life on the line each day to keep the neighborhood secure. His devoted contributions to the force came to a devastating conclusion lately after his health took an unexpected turn for the worse:

“K-9 Hunter has been ailing for the past several days and when testing were taken they found that K9 Hunter has a very aggressive form of liver cancer. They sadly suggested that he be euthanized,” Middletown K-9 supervisor Sgt. Doug Clark wrote online.

The prognosis was especially hard on D’Aresta, who had to make the painful decision to put his companion to sleep, but he was not alone in his sadness. Flanked by their fellow officers outside the veterinary office when that tragic day arrived, D’Aresta held Hunter in his arms as he received one last salute from those whom he served so loyally alongside.

“Officer D’Aresta and Hunter have been an amazing team serving the City of Middletown in a high caliber since 2007,” Clark wrote. “So as you might guess, this is really stressful for Mike and his family.”

Middletown is home to a population of only under 50,000, but because to the touching manner the police department bid farewell to K-9 Hunter, his legacy is known now by many more people around the country and globe — and that’s a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten.