Any dog owner will tell you the close bond they share with their four-legged pal, and that bond must be even stronger when the pair have worked together, particularly in a war zone.
Lance Corporal Jeff DeYoung and his dog Cena had served together in the Marines, so when Cena was diagnosed with cancer and had to be put to sleep, his owner knew he wanted to do something special.
Good boy, Cena. Credit: PA
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Cena, who was 10, was given a hero's send-off in Michigan on Wednesday, after he and his owner completed a bucket list.
The black Labrador, who served in Afghanistan for three years, was given the touching military ceremony with hundreds turning out to pay their respects.
Hundreds of people turned up for the ceremony. Credit: PA
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The dog had spent three years as a bomb sniffer with the Marines, before retiring in 2014.
DeYoung decided to adopt the dog after his retirement and said the Labrador helped him deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He said the pooch was his only comfort when he lost seven friends in a matter of weeks and that the pair had kept each other warm on chilly nights in the desert.
Credit: PA
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Sadly, he was diagnosed with bone cancer two weeks ago, and had to be put down.
He said: "My whole adult life I've had Cena. When I was 19, overseas, learning how to be responsible, I had Cena. And now I'm 27 and I'm having to say goodbye to one of the biggest pieces of my life."
Hundreds of people turned up to the ceremony, which saw his owner carry him on his shoulders, the Telegraph reports.
Credit: PA
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After Cena was put to sleep he was placed into a casket, which was covered with an American flag, and carried by DeYoung who had tears in his eyes.
Topics: military