KUALA LUMPUR: Razor has stood by Anthony Phillip’s side through nearly eight years of trials and triumphs, until the devastating news arrived. Anthony’s furry companion was suffering from a serious kidney problem.
“It didn’t take long… his health deteriorated. Within about two weeks, the doctor suggested he be put to sleep to end his suffering,” said Anthony, a handler with the Fire and Rescue Department’s K9 tracker dog unit.
Razor was Anthony’s first partner when he was transferred from the Bukit Jelutong Fire and Rescue station to the K9 unit in 2018.
“He was the hardest to train in his batch (which arrived in Malaysia in 2017) because he was the youngest,” said Anthony.
“The others were around 2-years-old, but he was still in his first year and full of playful energy.”
He said he had to be smart to win the puppy’s heart and avoid upsetting him.
Razor later grew into a disciplined, resilient and tough dog trained in wilderness search and rescue, where he was used to locate missing persons in forests.
Despite his tough exterior, the all-black Labrador had a soft heart, jumping excitedly and licking his Sarawakian handler whenever he came near.
“One of the most memorable assignments we had was in Kelantan, searching for an 80-year-old man who had gone missing in the jungle.
“Rescuing people lost in such dense terrain is never easy, and too often we arrive a little too late.
“But this time, we found him alive.”
Razor had just completed a mission in Raub, Pahang, in January this year when he fell ill two weeks later.
Heartbroken, Anthony stayed by his loyal companion’s side until Razor’s very last breath.
“I was there when they administered the medicine. I waited as he took his final breath.
“It was an incredibly painful experience, especially after all the years we spent working together.
“For a while, I felt something was missing because every morning I would normally groom him.
“Now, I help groom the other dogs.”
Anthony is now waiting and hoping for a new partner from the department’s newly acquired batch of dogs, which are expected to arrive in Malaysia later this year.
“Once they are here, there will be a training session for about two months.
“Their original trainers from the United Kingdom will also be present, and they will assess which handlers are suitable for these newly acquired dogs.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
