Obituaries

Marine Dog With Cancer Gets Tear-Filled Farewell In Michigan: Photos

Hundreds of people turned out in Michigan to say goodbye for a cancer-stricken dog that served three tours in Afghanistan with the Marines.

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MUSKEGON, MI— Hundreds of people in Michigan came together to salute and say a tear-filled final goodbye to a cancer-stricken dog who served three tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Marines. Cena the black lab received a hero's farewell Wednesday before being euthanized at a museum ship in Muskegon and carried off in a flag-draped coffin.

Cena was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until his retirement in 2014. He then became a service dog for Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung, Cena's first wartime partner.

Cena was recently diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Grand Rapids Patch,or click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also,if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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DeYoung organized the celebration for the dog. He says he wanted to take his dog on one last ride in a topless Jeep before Cena was put down. The Jeep was decorated and named "Cancer Response Team."

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People say their goodbyes to Cena a 10-year-old black lab who was a military service dog before they leave for his last ride at the LST 393 in Muskegon on Wednesday. Cena was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer after owner U.S. Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung noticed he wasn't putting weight on his front left leg. (Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

(Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

Paige Alfred gives a kiss to Cena a 10-year-old black lab who was a military service dog before they leave for his last ride at the LST 393 in downtown Muskegon on Wednesday. (Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

U.S. Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung and Cena a 10-year-old black lab who was a military service dog ride away for his last ride before being put down aboard the LST 393 in downtown Muskegon Wednesday. (Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP
(Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

U.S. Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung carries Cena a 10-year-old black lab who was a military service dog, off the LST 393 where he was put down in downtown Muskegon Wednesday. (Joel Bissell/Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

Main image: U.S. Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung carries Cena a 10-year-old black lab who was a military service dog, aboard the LST 393 where he was put down on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 in Muskegon, Mich. Cena was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer after DeYoung noticed he wasn't putting weight on his front left leg. (Joel Bissell /Muskegon Chronicle via AP)

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