“Sirius” was a yellow, 4 1/2 year old Labrador retriever. He specialized in explosive detection. Dave Lim started training him in March of 2000 & was assigned to the World Trade Center in July 2000. They were responsible for searching all vehicles that entered the WTC as well as unattended packages & vehicles. They also worked with many VIP's including ex-President Clinton & Gov. Jesse Ventura. Sirius as all other K-9's in their unit lived at home with Dave Lim’s family as a pet on off hours & days off.
On Sept. 11th, 2001, Sirius & Dave were in the B-1 level of #2 WTC at their office when they felt the first airplane hit the building. At first, Dave told Sirius, "I think they got one by us fella. You stay here & I'll be right back." He later said, “I never should have doubted my dog.”
After Dave assisted in rescue & evacuation operations, he was trapped on the 4th floor of #1 World Trade Center till 3:00 PM. After he got out, he attempted to return to the sub-grade & rescue Sirius. Firemen who informed him that the area that Sirius was in was inaccessible turned him back. The Port Authority lost 37 Police Officers & Sirius that day. Doctors would not allow Lim to search at Ground Zero because of the emotional toll it could have taken on him. But he kept tabs on the rescue effort, checking in periodically to ask whether they had made it to the kennel area.
“I grieve for those I knew. I grieve for those I never knew. But I grieve the most for the best partner a cop ever had. Sirius is still waiting for me," said Lim.
In the first few months, rescuers had to build a road over it to get to another area. When they found his jacket, Lim knew they were getting close. And, on January the 25th, workers at Ground Zero recovered the remains of Sirius believed to be the only canine to die in the attack on the World Trade Center.
“I've been waiting to find him," Lim said. “I fulfilled my promise to him because I came back and I took him home.”
The remains of the bomb-detection dog were found beneath the debris of Tower Two, in the Port Authority's basement kennel. Workers immediately called Lim to the scene when they found Sirius. They carried out the remains with full honors, complete with a prayer and a salute.
"There was a flag over his bag and I carried him out with another officer, John Martin,” Lim said. "Everyone saluted. All the machinery was stopped -- the same thing that is done for human police officers and firefighters. I thought it was very nice." The Port Authority has listed 37 of its police officers as missing or dead as a result of the attack. Lim believes that number should be 38.
“He was my partner,” Lim said. "We got really attached to him," he added.
“I still step over the spot where he used to sleep in my room because I forget he's not there."
He found consolation in the fact that his partner died instantly. It appeared that the kennel collapsed.
Sirius' remains were cremated at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in Westchester County; N.Y. Lim collected the ashes and will keep them in an urn at home until April, when he plans to hold a memorial service.
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