Taz: Dog From 9/11 Search-and-Rescue Unit Dies

cityroom ^ | October 2, 2009, | Jennifer Lee

[JoeProBono]

A German shepherd named Taz, who was almost 2 years old when he was assigned from the city police’s K-9 unit to do search and rescue at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attack, has died.

Taz was the last of the dogs involved in the attacks to still serve on the force. He died of cardiac arrest last Sunday, the Police Department said.

Taz would have been 10 years old on Oct. 31 and had served in the Canine Emergency Service Unit, where his duties consisted of searching for evidence, suspects and missing persons. (The average age of the K-9 dogs is 5 years old, and their working careers generally last 6 to 10 years.)

[JoeProBono]

Taz, a K-9 first-responder to the Sept. 11 World Trade Center attack, was 9 years old.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Awwww. Good doggie...

[Velveeta]

Beautiful dog.
Job well done, Taz.

[who knows what evil?]

Good boy...the time has come for you to rest with your brothers at Rainbow Bridge.

[JoeProBono]

[VictoryGal]

Brave good fellah... play in the eternal sunshine at the Rainbow Bridge.

[FourPeas]

Officer Ryan added, “I will ride with my partner Taz for the last time, as I head to Hartsdale Pet Cemetery to bring his ashes home.”

Job well done, Taz.

[oldteen]

Another hero passes.

[rickmichaels]

He served us well. Rest in peace forever, Taz.

[JoeProBono]

Taz, a 9 year old german shephard, was a first responder on 9/11.

[JoeProBono]

“He was best partner I ever had,” said his handler, Officer Scott Ryan, 44, of the ESU/K9 unit.

“When it was time to work, we did the work.”

Like other police dogs, he put in long hours after the terror attacks.

“They all knew what we wanted to do and we asked them and they did it,” Ryan said.

[LADY J]

"Officer Ryan added, “I will ride with my partner Taz for the last time, as I head to Hartsdale Pet Cemetery to bring his ashes home.”

Rest In Peace, Taz.

So heartbreaking. Hug your doggies!!

[mowowie]

RIP doggie.

[lysie]

Good boy. Sad when one of our friends leave us.

[ottbmare]

I can accept and thank God for His will in everything except this: that He doesn’t let our dogs live longer. I hate saying goodbye to them so soon. What’s ten cruddy years? Why not let them live as long as we do?

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Good post.

[JoeProBono]

[SoCalPol]

What a wonderful dog.
On 9/10/09 another search and rescue dog here in San Diego
who was sent to New York after 9/11 died.

[BigEdLB]

I can accept and thank God for His will in everything except this: that He doesn’t let our dogs live longer. I hate saying goodbye to them so soon. What’s ten cruddy years? Why not let them live as long as we do?

Be they Boxer, Poodle, or German Shepherd

[rabidralph]

Because then you have to send them to college, buy them their first car, etc.