An emotional photo of a dog mourning his master at a funeral has captured hearts everywhere.
Petty Officer Jon Tumilson, 35, was one of 38 Americans killed in the helicopter crash in Afghanistan this month. He was remembered by around 1,500 mourners at his funeral Friday in his hometown of Rockford, Iowa, at the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School.
Mr. Tumilnson’s Labrador retriever, Hawkeye, led Tumilson’s family into the school’s gymnasium where the funeral was held. Hawkeye then stretched out on the floor below the casket and refused to leave his master’s side.
The photo was taken by Mr. Tumilson’s cousin, Lisa Pembleton, who then posted the touching image to her Facebook page.
Ms Pembleton wrote: “I felt compelled to take one photo to share with family members that couldn’t make it or couldn’t see what I could from the aisle.
In response to the outpouring of messages on Facebook about Hawkeye, Nikki Virgilio, a friend of Mr Tumilson wrote:
“I can happily report to you that Hawkeye was willed to one of J.T.’s good friends, the same one that took care of him whenever J.T. was deployed overseas. So he is assuredly in a loving home. J.T. was an amazing being and his dog is no different.” Source
It’s uncanny how dogs seem to sense when their owners are sick or have passed away. They go into mourning just like adults.
