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Beloved K9 with seizures, arthritis gets police escort to Maine vet clinic to be euthanized

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this Feb. 13, 2015, photo Canine Officer Shane Stephenson of the South Portland Police Department spends a moment with Sultan, a retired police dog that became his pet, before he carried the dog into the Yarmouth Veterinary Center where he was euthanized in Yarmouth, Maine. Dozens of officers and firefighters turned out this month to pay their respects to Sultan, a 13-year-old German shepherd who sniffed out drugs and bad guys with the Yarmouth Police Department. (AP Photo/The Press Herald, Shawn Patrick Ouellette) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

In this Feb. 13, 2015, photo Sgt. Robert Burke of the Maine State Police salutes along with other officers from local communities as Canine Officer Shane Stephenson of the South Portland Police Department carries Sultan, a retired police dog into the Yarmouth Veterinary Center where he was euthanized in Yarmouth, Maine. Dozens of officers and firefighters turned out this month to pay their respects to Sultan, a 13-year-old German shepherd who sniffed out drugs and bad guys with the Yarmouth Police Department. (AP Photo/The Press Herald, Shawn Patrick Ouellette) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

In this Feb. 13, 2015, photo police officers line up to say goodbye to Sultan, a 13-year-old German shepherd who sniffed out drugs and bad guys with the Yarmouth Police Department, in the back of a car outside the Yarmouth Veterinary Center where he was euthanized in Yarmouth, Maine. (AP Photo/The Press Herald, Shawn Patrick Ouellette) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

A beloved K9 suffering from seizures and arthritis has gotten a police escort to the Maine vet clinic where he was to be euthanized.

Dozens of officers and firefighters turned out this month to pay their respects to Sultan, a 13-year-old German shepherd who sniffed out drugs and bad guys with the Yarmouth Police Department.

Officers gave a last pat or scratch to the dog. Then they provided an escort for Sultan's final journey to a veterinary clinic.

South Portland canine officer Shane Stephenson took Sultan in as a pet when the dog retired. He says the dog was friendly and lovable, but "when it came down to business, he was one of the best, too."