Amanda Forrester / news@whmi.com

Multiple organizations came together to help a man who recently lost his best friend.

Officers from the Holly Police Department received a call of a report of a man in a wheelchair hit by a vehicle on Grange Hall Road in front of an apartment building on Apr. 19 at 10:20 p.m.

Officers found the man in the apartment’s driveway “deeply sobbing.” The man, identified as Ron, said he wasn’t hit or injured, but “his only companion in life Odin was killed.”

A large black dog was found dead in the road. It was determined that the dog was killed by impact with an unknown vehicle that left the scene.

Ron said he and Odin were on the sidewalk when Odin went into the road and was struck.

Ron and Odin had lived together since he rescued the dog from the Humane Society 13 years ago, becoming inseparable. Ron suffered several health challenges that confined him to a wheelchair, at which point Odin became his “constant companion.”

Officers removed Odin from the road and contacted the Holly Fire Department to take Odin somewhere safe. First responders also asked Ron if they could contact someone to help him but he said he had no one to call.

After helping Ron back into his apartment, “officers were determined to bring Odin home to Ron in a memorable and dignified way.”

One officer contacted the Pawsitive Care Veterinary Clinic, explaining the circumstances of Odin’s death and the lack of financial ability to pay, veterinary staff said they would cover half the cost for cremation. Staff and officers paid the remaining costs, and purchased an urn and ceramic paw print.

Officers came back to Ron’s apartment recently to bring Odin home, according to a Facebook post on Tuesday. “Ron was surprised and thankful to all who helped him and Odin.”

In addition to reuniting Ron and Odin, officers are working with him and his doctor to get a Life Alert necklace emergency notification system for him to use when he’s out of his home.

Multiple people commented on the post, saying they will help with adoption costs if Ron wants to get a new dog, resources that he could be connected with and just offering words of encouragement for the man.

(photo credit: Holly PD via Facebook)