In Memory of Sirius

"Sirius", Police K9, Badge Number 17.

Police K9, Sirius, was a bomb detection dog with the NY/NJ Port Authority Police Department. He and his partner, Police Officer David Lim, were assigned to the World Trade Center.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Sirius and Officer Lim were at their Port Authority Police Station in the basement of the World Trade Center's South Tower. When Officer Lim heard the sound of an explosion, he thought a bomb had gone off inside the building, and he commented to Sirius, "one must have gotten by us."

Thinking he'd be more effective freehanded, Officer Lim left Sirius in his kennel telling him, "I'll be back to get you." as he rushed off to help with the rescue effort. At that time, he couldn't think of a safer place for his canine companion to be than in the basement while he was up doing the rescues.

Officer Lim didn't make it back though, he became trapped in the falling debris of the North Tower and wasn't pulled out until more than five hours later. Sirius, however, perished in the tragedy, leaving Officer Lim without his faithful partner.

"He was very special," Officer Lim said, "All dogs go home with us, so not only was he my partner, but he was also my pet and my friend." The bond between a K-9 and his master is special, and while David realizes the human tragedy will overshadow the death of his dog, he still misses Sirius. "We were very close; no matter where I went, he went. Whatever I asked him to do, he did. He never complained. Sometimes we'd be working for long hours, searching hundreds of cars or trucks, and he'd just look at me like, 'What do you want me to do now?'"

On January 22, 2002, Sirius' body was recovered. When David was notified that the kennel had been found, he rushed to Ground Zero to be there for the recovery of his dog. From all accounts, Sirius was killed instantly. He received full Police Honors when his body was carried out. All the great machines were silenced, everyone lined up and saluted as Officer Lim carried his flag draped companion to a waiting police truck.

It was a tough day for David, but he fulfilled the promise he made to Sirius back on September 11, 2001. David said, "He waited and I came back." The American Flag which had covered the body of Sirius was given to Officer Lim, who says he will cherish it always.

A Memorial Service for Sirius was held on April 24, 2002 at Liberty State Park (North Field) in Jersey City, New Jersey. Earlier that month, Sirius had been posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross at the British Embassy in Manhattan. Almost one hundred police dogs, many wearing badges covered by black ribbon to match those of their handlers and some from as far away as California, filed past the wooden urn containing the ashes of Sirius, as their handlers stopped to salute. Then, David, who had been Sirius' handler for two and a half years, was presented with his companion's stainless steel water bowl, which had been found in his kennel.

"I grieve for those I knew. I grieve for those I never knew. But I grieve the most for the best partner a cop ever had. Sirius is still waiting for me." David Lim.


Officer Lim with Sirius.

K-9 Sirius 9-11-2001 Lapel Pin
This lapel pin is made of the best quality materials possible to remember Sirius, the 9/11 dog hero.



Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs
This emotional book is a wonderful tribute to all the dog heroes of September 11th.

Roselle - American Hero Dog of the Year

Computer sales manager Michael Hingson was at his desk on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's north tower on the morning of 9/11 when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the other side of the building, 18 floors above. And he lived to tell the tale because of his guide dog, Roselle.

The yellow labrador calmly guided her owner 1,463 steps out of the building and, as debris fell and dust billowed, found a subway station and led them both underground to safety.

Roselle died in June 2011 at the age 13, but her heroism lives on. At a star-studded red carpet event in L.A. on Saturday night the yellow lab was honored as the American Hero Dog of the Year.

Just as they got out of the building on 9/11, the south tower collapsed. "While everyone ran in panic, Roselle remained totally focused on her job," Michael Hingson said, "While debris fell around us, and even hit us, Roselle stayed calm."

Read - Thunder Dog: A Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

The 9/11 rescue dogs

During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors.

Now, ten years on, just 12 of these heroic canines survive, and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.

The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.

Read the full article with pictures at the Daily Mail

Red - A Canine hero of 9/11

While there were hundreds of human heroes in the days following the September 11 attacks, there were four legged heroes too. The dogs who searched for survivors and bodies in the rubble of buildings and planes. There were over 300 canine search and rescue teams who worked in the days and weeks following September 11, 2001.

Red, a 12 year-old labrador who searched the rubble of the Pentagon with her handler, is among those now retired as an active search dog. Her legs are not as spry as they once were but in her temperament Red still appears to have that same devotion to the search.

Not long after American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, Red was at work. She was only 18 months old, yet she discovered dozens of bodies.

Also read about Roselle - The Thunder Dog

Death of an American Hero - Roselle The 9/11 Guide Dog

Roselle, known as "Thunder Dog", was a very special guide dog who survived the September 11th World Trade Center attacks with her blind owner, Michael Hingson.

Roselle and Michael were on the 78th floor of the North Tower when the first plane hit their building. In a remarkable display of trust and teamwork, the two climbed down 1,400 stairs, fled the towers, survived the ensuing collapse, and successfully navigated through the choking debris cloud.

Roselle passed away on Sunday June 26th, 2011 at the age of 13.

A book about her life has been released. Thunder Dog: A Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero