Duxbury Police K9 Gets Hero's Farewell
DUXBURY (CBS) – There was a hero's farewell Friday for a service dog that spent 11 of his 12 years working with the Duxbury Police. K9 Zar was laid to rest.
"He was my partner, my best friend, we were together every day, 24/7, he slept right beside my bedside at night," Officer Ryan Cavicchi said.
Zar's work is now done. Officer Cavicchi had to let go of his friend, and partner who was one of the first SWAT-trained dogs in the state.
"Zar was a patrol dog, but Zar also had a substantial amount of tactical training," said Chief Matt Clancy.
It is with deep sadness we laid to rest K-9 Zar today.He was Officer Cavicchi's partner and best friend. EOW 5/29/15 pic.twitter.com/VNMVQKQYZh
— Duxbury Police (@Duxbury_Police) May 29, 2015
But Zar was more than a police dog. He was part of Officer Cavicchi's family. His wife was in tears on Friday.
"We have two boys ages 10 and 12," said Wendy Cavicchi. "He was a very great companion to them and it's really hard, it's going to be a huge loss in our house."
Zar's heroics? He was one of the police dogs at the Watertown shootout.
"He was so focused on the manhunt, that he refused to eat until the job was done," family friend Mary Chin said.
Dog officers from across Eastern Mass. were there at the end and in a final salute to his partner, Officer Cavicchi led a training exercise.
This is routine for every police dog. But Zar? He excelled at work, and at home with his family.