 Memorial for PAPD K-9 Officer Sirius. | |
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Labrador Retriever |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 1997 |
| Died | 11 September 2001 (aged 4) 2 World Trade Center (1971–2001) |
| Cause of death | September 11 Attacks |
| Occupation | Explosives detection dog |
| Employer | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department |
| Known for | Being the only canine fatality of the September 11 terrorist attacks |
| Awards | Victoria Cross (only known non-human recipient) |
Sirius was a Yellow Labrador police dog for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department responsible for explosives detection in the World Trade Center complex. [1] He is noted for being the only working dog fatality of the September 11 attacks. On 11 September 2001, Sirius and his handler Lieutenant David Waymond Lim were in a police office below the South Tower of the world trade center complex when upon feeling the shock of American Airlines Flight 11 crashing into the North Tower, he put Sirius in his kennel and went to investigate. Lt. Lim was inside the North Tower when it collapsed, and was rescued 5 hours later. [2] [3] Although he attempted to find Sirius in the rubble of the now collapsed South Tower, he was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent's Hospital to be treated for injuries from the collapse. The remains of Sirius were recovered on 21 January 2002 with a Police Honor Guard present. [4] In April 2002 the British Embassy in Manhattan posthumously awarded Sirius the Victoria Cross. [5]