His Story
Trakr was born in 1995 and quickly distinguished himself in the NYPD’s 53rd K-9 Platoon as a disciplined, courageous German Shepherd under the guidance of Officer James Symington.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Trakr and Symington were among the first search-and-rescue teams to enter Ground Zero after the Twin Towers collapsed, navigating smoke-filled air, shifting debris, and unstable rubble piles.
For ten relentless days—working twelve-hour shifts without rest—Trakr’s acute sense of smell and unflinching determination led him to the wounded and trapped: he was the dog who located and helped rescue Genelle Guzman, buried under the south tower’s collapse, as well as more than a dozen other survivors who otherwise might have gone unnoticed.
Amidst the ash and chaos, Trakr moved confidently from one unstable heap to the next, his protective vest stained by dust and soot, never hesitating to signal his handler when he sensed life beneath collapsed floors.
After the operation, his steadfast loyalty and life-saving prowess earned him international acclaim, including the prestigious Dickin Medal, often called the “animals’ Victoria Cross.”
In retirement, Trakr lived out his days in peace, but his legacy endures—embodying the finest virtues of service, bravery, and compassion, and reminding us that even in our darkest hours, hope can arrive on four paws.
