Saying goodbye to a dog is always difficult, but this special act is especially emotional when the dog is your work partner.
Wilo, an Orem Police Department K-9, is a retired Malinois German Shepherd who is retiring after many years of impeccable service. Her boss, Quentin, has been her partner for three years and it’s time to say goodbye.
Quentin and Willow had a rough start.
Quentin wasn’t Wilo’s first supervisor. That’s because the two have only been partners for three years. However, when they first met, Wilo was not at all friendly with his new friend.
“When I picked him up, he was growling at me the whole time on the way home”, says Quentin.
As Willow tried to adjust to her new boss, neither she nor Quentin knew that a special bond would form.
After some time, a life bond was formed.
Soon, Quentin and Wilo clicked. After all, both were police officers with strict routines and thorough training.
Day by day, Wilo and Quentin were bound to each other, and soon they couldn’t live without each other.
“He ends up becoming your brother and your partner.”
Vilo is an impeccable police dog with years of experience in search and prosecution of felons. His trainability and naturally good instinct were of huge help to Quentin many times.
Vilo Had Some “Life-And-Death” Moments
There were times when Vilo was on a thin line between life and death. Some tasks they had were extremely complicated, as they demanded Vilo to go after armed criminals or secure the field prior to arrest.
“It’s a really heavy decision that you have to make… You put complete trust in him, and he trusts you, and it’s really something you can’t explain unless you’ve done it.”
Luckily, neither Vilo nor Quentin were ever life-injured. He ended his police career with an impeccable record, which is why his police colleagues decided to give him a send-off to remember.
He Got An Emotional Radio-Call From His Colleagues
Vilo got his last send-off over a radio in a police car next to his partner.
It was an emotional moment for Quentin, as the message the colleagues prepared was really touching. And, even though Vilo couldn’t understand the exact words, it didn’t take long for him to sense his coworker’s emotions.
“You deserve so much needed rest. Thank you for keeping your handlers safe over the course of your career, and bringing them home each and every day. You’ll be missed, K-9 Vilo 1042”, was in the final message.
Vilo Excels As A Family Dog, Too
Even though he’s not a police dog anymore, Vilo and Quentin are still life companions, but only in a different way. Vilo’s now a family dog who excels in daily chores, and he loves it!
It did take some time for him to get used to a completely new daily routine, but he managed to do it.
Quentin and Vilo live a happy life together, witnessing that retired police dogs have no problem being impeccable pets.
