Caesar, last 26/11 hero dog, dies

Caesar, the last surviving 26/11 hero of his kind, died on Thursday. Caesar, a Labrador Retriever, was covered with the Tricolour and received an emotional farewell from the city’s police force. Mumbai’s Police Commissioner too marked the passing of the canine hero with a tweet.

Caesar, who was 11 years old, was the sole survivor among the dogs of the Mumbai Police who took part in bomb detection operations during the terrorist attacks on Mumbai that began on November 26, 2008. He died at a farm in Virar where he and his three canine buddies had been sent after retirement.

“The brave, alert & efficient Caeser will be remembered fondly for his services. An emotional moment for all of us,” tweeted Mumbai Police Commissioner DD Padsalgikar, with hashtag #RIPCaesar.

The Mumbai Police’s official handle also tweeted their grief, saying, “Services of retired member of dog squad,during 26/11 wil b unforgettable.We will miss our hero immensely.”

It has been a tragic year indeed for Mumbai Police as far as these canines are concerned. Tiger, Max and Sultan all died this year+ . Max had died first, on April 8, followed by Sultan on June 18. Caesar had gone into depression and had been 26/11 dog in hospital after buddy’s death+ on July 23.

The senior dog was suffering from arthritis, a common ailment among Labrador Retrievers, and had been admitted to the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (BSPCA) with a 105-degree fever.