KUANTAN: Unbreakable bonds, even after death.
Pahang police headquarters personnel yesterday bid farewell with a heavy heart to Bad, a Labrador police sniffer dog, who died of old age after more than a decade of service.
The officers, led by the Pahang police technical assistance division (D6) chief Assistant Superintendent Chia Che Chau, placed stalks of yellow flowers on Bad's grave before bidding a final salute fit for a hero at Alor Akar here.
The German Labrador, a member of the Pahang police K9 tracker dog unit, joined the squad here on Aug 4, 2011, at the age of two.
The Pahang Criminal Investigation Department (CID) shared on Facebook about Bad's death, along with several images, about 3pm yesterday.
"Aged 13 years and eight months, Bad has served the Pahang CID K9 since Aug 4, 2011. It served as a narcotics sniffer dog under the supervision of his handler Corporal Willen Slamping @ Sirampin.
"While in service, Bad used his skills and played a vital role during two major operations to bust drug syndicates in 2012 and 2014," it wrote.
Bad was buried next to his partner Tho, another Labrador which served as a narcotics detection dog here, before succumbing to old age on Sept 19, 2020.
The posting said Pahang police will set up a "K9 Memorial Park" at the site where the two K9 dogs were laid to rest.
The footnote of the posting read: "Bad's service and loyalty will always remain as a contribution to the beloved country."
The Facebook page has been inundated with comments from netizens who were saddened and expressed gratitude to Bad for his services.
Images of Willen kneeling while placing flowers on Bad's grave and standing near the white tombstone which had a picture of Bad were also shared by the police.
In 2020, a German Shepherd from the Pahang police K9 Unit made history when he became the first canine to be honoured with the "Jasamu Dikenang" medal after successfully detecting a fleeing criminal the previous year.
The canine named "Loo Wu" was recognised for his efforts in tracking down a theft suspect who had fled deep into an oil palm plantation in Jerantut during the wee hours of Nov 14, 2019.