SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- A Herriman City police dog killed in the line of duty earlier this month will be honored with a custom-painted casket during a memorial service.
Rawtin Garage in Salt Lake City designed the casket for K-9 Hondo, who was fatally shot while assisting officers apprehending a fugitive in Salt Lake City on Feb. 13, according to KSL-TV.
White the automotive custom paint shop usually uses cars, motorcycles and trucks as its canvas, it received the urgent request from the Herriman City Police Department last Wednesday.
Johnny Ward and Keith Eccles had only 24 hours to get the project done.
Ward got to know the Herriman Police Department after doing the custom artwork on their patrol motorcycles. He and his team worked extra hours, even through the night and into the morning, to put the finishing touches on the casket.
"In a weird way, it was kind of a spiritual experience," Eccles told the news station. "You feel like, by the time you’re done, you really got to know Hondo."
Once finished, the team at Rawtin said that it came out as well as anything they have done.
"Standing back and seeing it, it was something to be proud of," Ward said. "Hondo was a special dog. A great dog. And we all love dogs."
Rawtin did the job or free, saying it’s just part of being part of the community.
Funeral services for Hondo are planned for Feb. 29 at 11 a.m. inside Herriman High School, 11917 S. Mustang Trail Way, Herriman and is open to the public.
