A German Shepherd named Faust was a beloved K-9 officer that served as an Explosives Detection and Patrol dog on the BNSF Railway Police Force in Texas.
For a period of eight years, this courageous canine officer consistently demonstrated exceptional proficiency in serving and safeguarding the community, accompanied by his handler, Senior Special Agent Bryan Schaffer.
Honoring his invaluable contributions to the community as well as the whole country, Faust received an emotional send-off into retirement.
Prepare to be moved by the story of bravery, loyalty, and the lasting impact of one exceptional K-9 officer.
An Emotional Farewell
The video posted on BNSF Railway’s YouTube channel shows Faust and his handler, Bryan Schaffer, seated in the squad car while the dispatcher utters the final radio call.
K-9 Faust can be heard whimpering by the end of the call, and his handler of eight years was completely overwhelmed with emotion. With a sad look on his face, officer Shaffer gave Faust a kiss.
The clip was originally posted on YouTube on March 6, 2017, and since then, it has been viewed more than 720,000 times.
You can take a look at Faust’s emotional send-off into retirement here:
Thank You For Your Service
“Faust, thank you for all the good you have done for BNSF and other agencies – but mostly I thank you for getting us both home safe after every shift,” Special Agent Bryan Shaffer said in the farewell post on Facebook.
“He is now officially a permanent part of our family,” officer Shaffer concluded.
Sadly, after three years of enjoying retirement as a permanent member of the Shaffer family, Faust passed away in 2020 at the age of 13.
To officer Shaffer, Faust was more than just a partner.
“The connection between Faust and me was unlike anything I’ve had with any other dog. He saw me at my best and my worst. He saw me laugh and cry. I spent more time with him than with my own family. We just had something special,” Shaffer said.
The impeccable work ethic that set the standard for everyone, his courage, bravery, enthusiasm, and happy spirit were some of the things that made Faust so special.
He was inducted into the We Ride to Provide (WRTP) Hall of Fame after his death, BNSF Railway recently posted on their Instagram.
Faust’s legacy will live on forever.
