Special funeral planned for marine combat dog on National Dog Day

(FOX NEWS) - A Marine service dog who served three tours in Afghanistan will be remembered in a special military funeral on Saturday.

Cena, a black lab, was a bomb-sniffer for the Marines until retiring in 2014 when he became a service dog for his handler Lance Cpl. Jeff DeYoung.

The war dog saved "literally hundreds of Marines in combat." Cena was euthanized in July after a battle with cancer. Hundreds of people came last month to say farewell to him.

DeYoung will lead a convoy of Jeeps and American flags from Muskegon to the Michigan War Dog Memorial at noon on Saturday. The ceremony will include a taps performance, escort by eight German shepherds, flag presentation for DeYoung, and a color guard.

"You've got to understand the bond between a soldier and his dog, it's way over the top," said Phil Weitlauf, the War Dog Memorial founder and an Army veteran.

"This dog was more than a pet to us. He was another brother," said a GoFundMe page for Cena's funeral. The fundraiser surpassed its $40,000 goal, raising $60,774, by Saturday.

"To my combat buds, let's do something for one of our own."