Since his beloved K-9 partner Jethro was shot and killed in the line of duty, Canton, Ohio police officer Ryan Davis has received thousands of letters of condolence and support.
Over the weekend, Davis was sifting through the stack of messages when he stumbled upon one from a generous 11-year-old girl named Allison.
“It really touched him,” fellow officer Eric Stanbro told ABC News.
“I sorry about Jethro,” penned Allison in her letter. “So here is my allowance for the bulletproof vests. God bless you and the dogs.”
Davis, who had been Jethro’s partner since the pup was just 8 weeks old, was so moved by Allison’s letter that he’s reached out to the girl to thank her personally.
According to a police department Facebook update this week, the officer will be speaking to Allison soon.
During their call, he'll probably relay the good news that the K-9 unit is in the process of getting new bulletproof vests for its seven remaining dogs.
Allison's donation may have been small, but it “really struck a chord" with Davis and the entire unit, Stanbro told ABC News.
Three-year-old Jethro (pictured) died in January after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds while responding to a burglary at a grocery store.
“There’s not a doubt in my mind that that dog saved officers’ lives today,” Police Chief Bruce Lawver told the Canton Rep at the time.