Trakr the Dog An American Hero

Trakr was a German Shepherd police dog who made history in 2002 by helping to locate the remains of a World Trade Center victim.

Trained by the New York City Police Department's K-9 unit, Trakr was a skilled search and rescue dog.

Trakr's work in the aftermath of 9/11 was a testament to his bravery and dedication.

He and his handler, John Walsh, were part of a team that searched the rubble of the World Trade Center for survivors and victims.

Trakr was a search and rescue dog who worked with his owner, James Symington, on the Halifax police force.

Trakr had a six-year career apprehending felons, recovering lost persons, and detecting over $1 million of contraband.

He was bred and trained in the Czech Republic and joined the police force at 14 months old.

Trakr was retired early due to police policy, but Symington fought to keep him and they remained best friends.

Trakr and Symington drove 15 hours to be one of the first K9 search and rescue teams to arrive at New York City's ground zero after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Trakr worked at ground zero until he collapsed from smoke inhalation.

He led a rescue team to find the last survivor, Genelle Guzman, who was buried for 28 hours beneath 23 feet of rubble.

Trakr got a "live hit" under the rubble, and firefighters dug in the spot to find Guzman.

Trakr collapsed from chemical and smoke inhalation, burns, and exhaustion on September 14, 2001.

He was treated with intravenous fluids and released the next day.

Trakr returned home to Canada with Symington and their friend, Corporal Joe Hall.

The Halifax police suspended Symington with pay for participating in the rescue efforts without permission.

Symington was later given the opportunity to return to work, but declined.

Dr. Jane Goodall honored Symington and Trakr with an "Extraordinary Service to Humanity Award" in 2005.

Trakr died in April 2009 at the age of 14.

After leaving the force, Symington and Trakr moved to the Los Angeles, California area, where Symington took up acting. He appeared in a number of television soap operas including Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The L Word, and The Young and the Restless.

Symington worked as a stunt double, fight coordinator, and small part film actor.

Trakr suffered from degenerative myelopathy, a neurological disease, and lost use of his hind legs. Some experts attributed the condition to inhaling smoke at the World Trade Center site.

Symington took Trakr to Pawspice, a California end-of-life organization that serves as the equivalent of a hospice for pets and an animal oncology consultation service.