The night before, Kenobi and Officer Levi Knach had worked 17 hours straight searching for a missing child in northeastern Indiana. They found the child safe and sound. The next day was the official photo.
Knach put on his uniform, adjusted his hat, and got ready for the portrait. Kenobi, his chocolate Labrador, had other plans. Again and again, he came over to lick his face, nudge him with his snout, and leave his hat completely crooked. The photographer had to retake the shot. And then retake it again. Four times. When the Indiana Department of Natural Resources published the images on Facebook, thousands of people melted over them. On Reddit, the photos racked up more than 53,000 upvotes in a matter of hours.
What makes Kenobi special is what’s behind the kiss: this same dog was rescued from Craigslist chained up in a yard, without even knowing what the word “sit” meant. Today he is certified to track missing people and detect illegally obtained wildlife. An elite professional who, when it comes to his partner, simply can’t pretend he doesn’t love him. 🐾
