The "Hero With A Friendly Bark" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article in my Lancaster Newspaper about a special dog named Zoltan.  Zoltan is a Police K9 who has been fighting cancer for over a year while still serving his time with the Lancaster City Bureau of Police.  But, his time as a police dog has finally come to an end.  He served his last shift this week.

  An announcement in the newspaper read: "With a heavy heart, we are announcing K9 Zoltan's final shift with the Lancaster City Police was yesterday, February 4, 2024, with B Platoon."  A post on the police department's Facebook page says..."As many of you know, Zoltan has been fighting cancer for over a year.  Although he had several months of remission, the B-cell lymphoma returned. Officer Hatfield has been supporting Zoltan through his second cancer treatment at PETS Hospital.  Zoltan is a 9-year-old German Shepherd who is cross-trained in patrol and narcotics detection.  Officer Hatfield and Zoltan have worked, and played, together for the past eight years.  "Zoltan has a successful track record of locating missing people and apprehending suspects involved in crimes - including 4 felons.  He has also been utilized 33 times to facilitate peaceful surrenders without incident," police said.  "Our community is safer and stronger thanks to Zoltan's commitment to duty, honor, and courage.  Thank You, Zoltan, for your outstanding service and for being an exemplary member of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police." I can remember many times, while walking the downtown streets of the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, seeing Zoltan walking with Officer Hatfield.  Made a few stops to talk with the officer as well as Zoltan.  He was extremely well trained, but was also just a dog who loved a bit of attention.  The city of Lancaster will surely miss Zoltan after his retirement from the police force.  I wish him the best in his retirement and hope that he will have a few more years of retirement.  He certainly deserves it.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.