A soldier gives his K-9 partner one last hug and stays with him until his last moments

LIVING WITH PETS

Sergeant Kyle Smilth and his partner, a German Shepherd named Bodza met while serving in the US Air Force.

Bodza had been working as a bomb detector since 2006, and he saved human lives by sniffing out bombs.

Until 2012, Smith started working with Bodza and the two quickly formed a strong friendship.

«He taught me patience,» Smith told The Dodo.

Over the years the two have done many missions together and when retirement day came, Sergeant Smith decided to adopt her. «I took it home the same day,» he said.

“He was even more loyal to home,” Smith said. “He followed me everywhere. He laid his head close to the bed and said goodnight to me, every night.

Bodza’s retirement was a happy time, until he was diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy in the summer of 2016.

«He couldn’t handle the stress on his body and using the bathroom was a chore,» Smith said. Smith was faced with a situation no pet owner ever wants to do — put Bodza down.

So in the clinic they placed him on a blanket and he died peacefully in his owner’s arms.

«I was holding Bodza as he passed,» Smith said. “It was a rush of so many things. It was just overwhelming. Fortunately, his colleagues were there to support him.

«They left me sobbing like a baby,» Smith said. “They patted me on the back and let me know it would be okay. My boss immediately went to get a flag, draped it over him, and left me one last moment.

“He had a smile on his face when he fell asleep,” Smith said.

«He was selfless — more than any human I’ve ever known. He did so much for next to nothing and did it with a smile.

Thank you very much Bodza! Rest in peace.

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