After nearly a decade of service, Zeus' fellow officers wanted to give him the proper send-off he deserved.
A valued member of the team was being farewelled by the police. Zeus, a German Shepherd who had worked with the department for nine years, was given the same emotional send-off as any human cop. It would be his last journey in a police car. A police car parade followed Zeus' automobile to the Ridgefield Veterinary Hospital, where he was wheeled through a gathering of servicemen. One officer said before Zeus was led inside, "It's with tears in our eyes that we must say farewell." He wore his Ridgefield police badge with pride, decency, and respect.
Zeus was regarded as a "alpha dog" who had helped officers make hundreds of arrests. He had done some incredible things for the police force since coming in 2006. Zeus had undertaken over 50 tracks for missing or wanted individuals throughout his years of service, locating 6 victims in life-threatening situations and 6 suspects who had fled crime scenes. But now, it was time for him to put his leash away for good. The department's chief, John Roche, described it as a "honor" to be present for Zeus' final moments. He continued, saying: “The sickness had deteriorated him to the point that it was just so difficult for him to exist and move on.”
Anyone who has owned a pet for a few decades will understand the sorrow of deciding to put your beloved furry buddy down. But there are situations when it is truly for the best — when an animal's quality of life has deteriorated to the point where they are no longer happy. Zeus had a terrible degenerative hip disease, and his health deteriorated rapidly after he retired from the service. One thing is certain: Though Zeus may be gone, he is not forgotten. Five years later, the Ridgefield CT Police Department expressed in a wonderful Facebook post that they still miss their canine friend. The piece concluded after recounting some of the Zeus' most significant accomplishments:
“Zeus was a valuable member of both our team and our community. He will always be in our hearts and minds, and he will never be forgotten.” Zeus definitely lived a long and happy life, and by the looks of things, he certainly liked his time in the police force. After all, not every dog gets to say they played such a crucial role! The video of Zeus' final ride in a squad car is embedded below. Be warned: it's a tearjerker.