A life of service came to an end on Saturday morning for retired Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) dog Fin (13½).
Owner and handler Dermot Mayock, of Dunedin, said the collie-huntaway cross went for a walk on Thursday and was happy in the water, but his condition deteriorated rapidly through Friday.
He reflected yesterday on his years with Fin, who was "world famous in New Zealand'' thanks to extensive media coverage of his exploits and a devoted social media following from across the world.
"He achieved a status that not many dogs in New Zealand do.
"To become an operational search and rescue dog is huge.''
The plucky young pup started life a farm in Oxford, North Canterbury, selected for training due to a diamond on his head which bore an uncanny resemblance to the LandSAR logo, and his abilities quickly became apparent.
"He had such a good temperament, so in tune with everything I was doing.''
Mr Mayock said his most memorable outing with Fin came at the start of the dog's career, searching for a woman who became lost and died while walking the Routeburn Track.
The pair spent five weeks searching, for about six to eight hours per day.
"That lady needed to be found and returned to her family.
"For the first week we were so, so tired. Fin was so young, as well.
"He always had a good work ethic, and a good nose.''
The dog's famously good temperament also came in handy during Fin's involvement with animal handling training for students in the Otago Polytechnic Veterinary Nursing programme.
"There isn't a student who came through the polytech in the vet nursing programme who doesn't know him.
"He was so patient with them.''
While Fin had retired from active duty, his famous tracking abilities were still with him to the end, Mr Mayock said.
"Even a few weeks ago I was doing a fun run with him just to give him some joy.
"Someone had left a jumper at the end of a track; he picked that up from quite a way away.''
Mr Mayock said he was reeling after the loss of his beloved companion.
"Honestly, I'm in a daze. It's terrible.
"We weren't apart much, I can tell you.''
