mumbai

Updated: Oct 14, 2016 13:24 IST

Caesar, the last of the four police dogs who saved many lives during November 26, 2008 terror attacks and helped in various criminal cases died at a retirement animal home in Virar on Thursday morning. His handlers from the Bomb and Detection Squad (Goregaon police) were present during the funeral,which was done with the National Flag draped over Caesar.

Read: In photos: The four canine heroes of the Mumbai police

The retirement home owner Fizzah Shah said 13-year-old Caesar succumbed to old age. “He was suffering from depression, as his earlier colleagues, Max, Tiger and Sultan died a few months ago. He was admitted in the Animal Hospital in Parel for arthritis and other old age ailments for a month and miraculously recovered. But since the past week, there was a relapse,” said Shah. “He was unable to walk properly and despite being extemely week for the last two days,he would eat his favourite chicken and rice, biscuits, and branded food.”

Caesar was buried with full state honours. (ANI Photo)

She went on to add that Caesar was posted at Taj Hotel during the 26/11 terror attack and saved many lives. He was suffering from depression after his colleague, Tiger, a black Labrador,another police soldier died recently. The four police canines had retired from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) last year, and the other three had died within four months of each other. “When Sultan first died, Tiger went into depression, and since Tiger died Caesar had been unwell. Caesar would just sit beside Tiger’s grave and mourn his death,” said the activist.

All four of them were part of major bomb blasts in the last 12 years,including the 2006 serial blasts as well as the bomb blasts in Zaveri Bazaar. In fact, Caesar recovered 8 kg of RDX from the Taj hotel area during the 2008 terror attack,said Shah. The canine had also found many bombs in various areas of CST and other areas.

Caesar was brought to the Animal Hospital, Parel in an animal ambulance and he was cremated in the presence of his handler Santosh from Mumbai Police.