Tiger, a retired police dog who helped in detecting bombs during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai and was on duty for several days outside the Taj hotel in Colaba, has passed away.
The 26/11 hero was laid to rest in a farmhouse he was living in post retirement. Tiger, a black Labrador, was suffering from a lung infection. Fizzah Shah, animal activist, whose Fizzah Farms in Virar was home to four 26/11 sniffer dogs — Max, Sultan, Tiger and Caesar — said the dog was on regular treatment for lung infection but his condition worsened on Friday night. “It was the most beautiful experience of my life to have our brave soldiers on my farm. I am fortunate,” she said.
She said Tiger was lonely after his childhood buddy and colleague, Sultan, passed away on the farm. The canine was attached to the bomb detection dog squad at Goregaon, which also comprised Max, Caesar and Tiger. Max had died in April this year.
“After Sultan went away, Tiger was depressed. When Max died, these three used to linger around his grave. Caesar is also not keeping well these days. When Tiger died, Caesar just sat down and he was not ready to get up,” she said. Caesar is the only sniffer dog of the 26/11 Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team left in the farm. Tiger was given a dignified burial on the farm. His funeral was held in Mumbai with full state honours, attended by dogs who stayed on the farm with him, including Caesar.
