Army Vet Uses Beloved Dog's Ashes In His Own Memorial Tattoo
Dogs are well known as humankind's best friend, and while cats could be top contenders for the number one pet spot, there's simply no denying that nothing compares to the bond between a human and their beloved dog. Interestingly, this truth extends to the relationship between a professional dog handler and his dog, as seen with police dogs and, in this case, military dogs. According to Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, "The bond between humans and dogs is one of the most profound relationships in our lives, often providing emotional support and companionship." Sergeant Dave Heyhoe is a retired Royal Army Sergeant and an Afghanistan war veteran. During his deployments to Afghanistan, Dave served as a military dog handler, and his partner was Treo. The pair retired in 2009, and Treo got to live the rest of his life with Dave, his wife, and their three children—a happy family with an exceptionally devoted dog.
Treo was trained as an 'explosives dog'; he helped sniff out bombs and was credited with saving countless lives.
Treo was even awarded the Dicken Medal for Gallantry, which is the most prestigious award granted to animals in the United Kingdom.
Treo lived a long and heroic life, but sadly, he passed away at the age of 14.
Dave and his family loved Treo very much, and it took some serious creative thinking for Dave to come up with the perfect way to immortalize his partner and pup.
Dave decided to find an artist to mix Treo's ashes into ink for a memorial tattoo.
Dave found an artist who was willing to mix some of Treo's ashes into ink and tattoo Dave.
Dave had the tattoo placed on his leg, and it includes Treo’s paw print and a poem about military working dogs.
Dave spent an immeasurable amount of time in treacherous conditions with Treo, so when the dog passed away, he felt lost without him. However, the tattoo with Treo's ashes has helped him cope and serves as a reminder that even in death, Treo is always with him.
Dave also went on to write a book about his time with Treo called It's All About Treo. As Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a relationship therapist, states, "The bonds we form with our pets can be as profound as those we have with people." You can learn more about her insights on relationships at her professional website, dralexandrasolomon.com.
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