PIC: Houston police officer stays with his dying horse until her last breath

The touching photo of Charlotte and her rider has since gone viral.

A heartbreaking photo of a US policeman comforting his dying patrol horse has gone viral after being posted to Facebook.

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Charlotte passed away on December 3 after colliding with a cement truck while on duty in Houston, Texas. The driver is said to not have been at fault. Her rider Officer D. Herrejon was taken to hospital as a precaution and is reported to have stayed with Charlotte during her final moments.

Charlotte had served with the Houston Police Department as a Mounted Patrol Horse for four years after coming to the department as two-year-old Tennessee Walker.

The Houston PD posted a touching tribute on their Facebook page in which they described Charlotte as "always ready to go to work putting bad guys in jail or giving nuzzles to children".

While is unknown who took the photo of the horse and her rider's last moments together, it first came to light on Animal Justice League Facebook page.