A police department has revealed that their late police dog would be laid to rest in a special, custom-made casket after the K-9 died in the line of duty while helping the police catch a fugitive.

As the Herriman Police Department explained, Hondo the K-9 was fatally shot while pursuing a runaway in Salt Lake City.

After the loyal dog’s tragic death, the department decided to reach out to Rawtin Garage, a painting business, in order to design a customized coffin for Hondo.

“What an honor it was to paint a hero’s casket. The passing of Herriman Police K9 HONDO, who was killed in the line of duty while assisting the U.S Marshal’s Office in apprehending a dangerous fugitive,” Rawtin Garage wrote in their tribute on Facebook where they shared a picture of their final product.

As the owner of the paint business later explained, it took the team a day to customize the casket, whereas the entire design was painted by hand or airbrushed.

“They asked if we could get something together since we have done work on their motorcycles before,” owner John Ward said in an interview with CNN.

Paying respects to the hero dog who died in the line of duty was also Herriman Police Department Chief, Troy Carr, who was seen struggling to hold back tears as he spoke about the K-9’s passing during a press conference.

“PSD Hondo was a true warrior and his actions last night assured his loving friend and partner Ben would be able to return home to his wife, children and HPD family,” the chief said.

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