Farewell, old friend: Touching moment Air Force dog handler hugs his dead K-9 draped in an American flag moments before he was laid to rest

  • A photo shows the heartbreaking moment Sgt Kyle Smith laid Bodza to rest 
  • They were paired up for four deployments and multiple security details
  • Smith adopted Bodza in 2014 after he retired, and the two were best friends
  • He recently began growing ill so Smith made the decision to have him put down 

By Abigail Miller For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A heartbreaking photo shows the moment an Air Force sergeant had to say goodbye to his K9 partner. 

Air Force sergeant Kyle Smith, from Gastonia, North Carolina, said that having to put Bodza down was one of the hardest things that he has ever done.

He was euthanized on Thursday, and a military canine trainer draped a flag over his body. A photo shows Smith giving Bodza one final hug as he was laid to rest. 

A heartbreaking photo shows the moment Air Force sergeant Kyle Smith had to say goodbye to his K9 partner Bodza

A heartbreaking photo shows the moment Air Force sergeant Kyle Smith had to say goodbye to his K9 partner Bodza

The powerful photo perfectly captures the loss of an unspoken bond between a human and his dog.  

Smith told WSOC: 'I hugged him and told him I loved him a lot. I'm going to miss you'. 

The two were paired up for four deployments and multiple security details for officials, and Smith ended up adopting Bodza in 2014 when he retired. 

The powerful photo perfectly captures the loss of an unspoken bond between a human and his dog
Smith adopted Bodza in 2014

The powerful photo, left, perfectly captures the loss of an unspoken bond between a human and his dog. Right shows them together before Bodza retired

'He was just goofy. He liked running around and just being a dog,' he said of his K-9 pal. 

In the last few months, Bodza, growing quite old, became ill and was in a lot of pain so Smith made the decision to have him put down. 

'I wouldn't be able to do a mission I did with him or his previous handlers without him there,' he told WSOC, who also said that he thinks the reason the picture is resonating with so many people is because they can relate.

Smith also said that he gave his puppy-pal a final meal of a McDonald's Big Mac before having him put down.  

Sgt Kyle Smith and Bodza lived through a lot together, including four deployments. When Bodza retired, Smith adopted him 

Sgt Kyle Smith and Bodza lived through a lot together, including four deployments. When Bodza retired, Smith adopted him 

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