Terminally-Ill Dog Becomes Middletown PD K-9 For Day

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Service dog Baxter doesn't have much time left, but he is making the most of it with a brief career change that helped raise money for charity.

Baxter is 12-years-old and has been a service animal for the past five years. He was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and his owner Shannon Hartz reached out to the Middletown Police Department.

Officer Aura Smith took on Baxter as her temporary K-9 partner and gave K-9 Diezel the day off.

Baxter and Smith patrolled Main Street, visited the residents of Wadworth Glen and participated in several charity works, including one in Naugatuck that raised money for a Dominican Republic orphanage.

Image via Middletown Police