With how much dogs do for us, it’s only fair we return the favor. They’ll go as far as to risk their lives for ours. How many of us would do the same for our dogs?

Some people do say they’d risk their lives for their dogs, and officer Joel Nitchman is one of the few who put his money where his mouth is.

The Deer Park policeman has worked with his dog for years. They’re a crime-fighting duo and an inseparable pair.

His dog, Ronan, is a narcotics K-9 dog who’s worked with him for 8 years.

To say they formed a strong bond is understating it.

Joel and Ronan are best friends and would do anything for each other.

Their line of work is a dangerous one, after all. Joel doesn’t hesitate to say how much he loves Ronan – not one bit.

So when danger struck the pair one day, Joel got a chance to prove how strong that love was.

Upon returning to the station from training, the danger that struck them was no gun-wielding criminal or explosive.

A tornado-bearing storm was in full force that day, and it meant business.

And in case the mere mention of a tornado didn’t sell the danger enough to you, Joel received a few physical reminders of just how intense storms like that can be.

I knew it was something bad when there were things were hitting my face. I don’t know what, but I knew it was debris of some kind.” he said on the news

But he had little time to worry about every little thing that the storm was kicking up and blowing in his face.

Ronan, his best friend, was still waiting in the kennel in the back of the squad car. The storm wasn’t getting any weaker.

So Joel stood in the face of the terrifying winds and debris to get Ronan out of the car.

He couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen if he left Ronan out there.

Would a fallen tree end up crashing down on the car? Would the typhoon sweep Ronan and the car away? Or maybe the car would flip over?

Joel wouldn’t let any of that happen. He rushed back outside to save Ronan.

Just when he was finally by the car door, the storm got even stronger. The winds really picked up and visibility came crashing down to zero.

All around him was rain, wind, and the roaring sound of the storm.

The wind made it a lot harder to open the doors. After some struggling, he finally got the door open.

Inside, Ronan was waiting. The dog was smart and knew it was too dangerous to just run out. He thought it’d be safer to wait it out inside the car.

But Joel knew that they couldn’t afford to do that. So he coaxed Ronan to come out anyway – which the dog did.

It wasn’t over, though. They still had to make it back inside the station.

The visibility improved ever so slightly, but it wouldn’t be an easy trip back inside.

A fence that the storm had swept around blocked the entrance to the station. That was another obstacle they had to struggle through together.

But after that terrifying close call, the pair made it to safety.

Joel had almost literally put himself in the eye of the storm to save his best bud.

And I think Ronan will never forget it.

Obviously, a scene like this would attract quite a lot of attention.

The station security camera caught everything. When it was uploaded, it went viral.

Everyone adored the display of just how much Joel loved and cared about his dog – and many people saw it as an example of how much someone should really care for their dogs.

Watch the video of Joel saving Ronan below, and please share this article too!

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Source: YouTube – KHOU 11, USA Today