K-9 Officer Hunter dedicated ten years of loyal service to the Middletown Police Department in Connecticut, working alongside his partner Michael D’Aresta and their fellow officers. Sadly, after being diagnosed with cancer, his final day was met with an outpouring of love and admiration from both his department and the online community.
Throughout his time on the force, Hunter risked his life daily to protect the neighborhood. His unwavering dedication to duty came to a heartbreaking end when his health took a sudden decline.
“K-9 Hunter has been ailing for the past several days, and after undergoing tests, it was discovered that he had a very aggressive form of liver cancer. Sadly, it was recommended that he be euthanized,” wrote Sgt. Doug Clark, Middletown’s K-9 supervisor.
The devastating prognosis was especially difficult for D’Aresta, who faced the painful decision to let his beloved partner go. However, he was not alone in his sorrow. On that tragic day, his fellow officers stood by him, gathered outside the veterinary office to pay their final respects. D’Aresta held Hunter in his arms as the brave K-9 received one last salute from the department he had served so faithfully.
“Officer D’Aresta and Hunter have been an amazing team, serving the City of Middletown with distinction since 2007,” Clark wrote. “As you can imagine, this has been incredibly difficult for Mike and his family.”
Though Middletown is home to just under 50,000 residents, the touching tribute to K-9 Hunter has since spread far beyond the city. His legacy of loyalty and courage is now known to people across the country and the world—a legacy that will never be forgotten.
