(SEPTEMBER 11TH) NEW YORK — It’s hard to believe that today is the eleven-year anniversary of that fateful day of terror. Not all first responder victims were of the two-legged kind. Read about how the only police dog killed in the attacks did his job that day, and how he was rightfully honored along with the other fallen heroes. Rest in peace, Sirius. — Global Animal
Artist Debbie Stonebraker’s portrait of Sirius. Photo credit: Downtown Express
Downtown Express, Ronda Kaysen
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the Explosive Detector Team for the World Trade Center – consisting of Port Authority Police Sergeant David Lim and Sirius, a yellow Labrador retriever – were in their South Tower basement office when the first plane struck the North Tower. Officer Lim put his 4-year-old partner in his kennel and headed off to the damaged tower to help
“I told him, ‘I think we’re in a lot of trouble right now,’” said Lim, who assumed he and Sirius had somehow failed to detect an explosive. “I said, ‘I’ll be back for you.’”
But before Lim could return, the events of the day unfolded, the South Tower collapsed followed by the North Tower, burying Lim on the fourth floor with six firefighters and an injured woman. The people were all safely rescued five hours later.
Lim did come back for Sirius eventually – on Jan. 22, 2002 when his remains were uncovered still in his kennel.
The Sirius Courage Award will be presented at the ceremony by Sgt. David Lim of the Port Authority Police, pictured here with his explosive detection dog Sirius, who lost his life in the 9/11 attacks. Photo: shaggydogstories.com
“I was very fortunate; so many people didn’t find anybody,” said Lim, adding that Sirius was treated with the same respect as all the other victims recovered. “They treated him like everybody else — bestowing the honors. I always appreciated that.”
At his memorial service the following April at Liberty State Park, 400 people attended including 100 K-9 teams from across the country.
“Sirius has his own following,” said Lim. The dog has a memorial in his honor in Canada, a painting by dog portrait artist Debbie Stonebraker and numerous Web sites commemorating him.
Sirius was not your typical bomb dog. “He was a big mush. You thought he was a lap dog, even though he was almost 100 lbs.,” remembered Lim. “He was very methodical… It was very cute watching him work.”
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I have a framed print of the Debbie Stonebraker painting on my living room wall. I remember Sirius every day.
They didn’t explain what caused the death of Sirius? Having been found in his kennel, over 3 months after 9/11, does that mean he starved to death? I know it’s weird to want to know, but I think Sirius wants everyone to know what happened to him… the same way people are told what happened to a soldier lost in battle.
My partner was crushed when Tower 2 fell.
Lt. David Lim PAPD
Sirius was in the basement office of his partner in the South Tower in his kennel when his partner went to the North Tower after it was hit, so he died when the South Tower fell on him.
Love you Sirius! Bless you and all the humans that helped to save others on 9/11. I know that you crossed the Rainbow Bridge!