--- title: "This ‘cloneworthy’ police dog found the last survivor of the 9/11 attacks" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-22" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-cloneworthy-police-dog-found-the-last-survivor-of-the-911-attacks/" categories: - "History" tags: - "Terrorism" --- # This ‘cloneworthy’ police dog found the last survivor of the 9/11 attacks ![]() A Canadian police dog who helped find 9/11 survivors impressed the CEO of a biotech firm so much, he cloned the canine five times*.* [Time Magazine]() called the dog named Trakr "one of history's most courageous animals." --- One good turn deserves another. James Symington made history in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for founding the canine unit of the Regional Police Department. During the September 11th attacks on New York, Symington and his coworker, Cpl. Joe Hall, drove to NYC with their dog, Trakr, to help find survivors. They arrived the morning of September 12, and Trakr immediately found a survivor — one of only five found that day, [according to ABC News](). Officers pulled out Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was on the 13th floor of the North Tower when it collapsed. She spent 26 hours under the rubble before the German Shepherd found her. ![]() *Trakr and Symington at Ground Zero. (photo from PRWeb)* On September 14th, Trakr[ collapsed from chemical and smoke inhalation](), burns and exhaustion. He was treated and the sent home with the Canadian police officers who brought her. In 2005, Symington and Trakr were presented with the "Extraordinary Service to Humanity Award" for their heroism during the aftermath of the attack. It was presented by famed anthropologist Dr. Jane Goodall. Symington was suspended without pay when his bosses saw him on TV, even though he was on leave at the time. He left the force and sued his old office. He moved to Los Angeles and became an actor and stunt double. ![]() Trakr developed a degenerative disease and could no longer use his hind legs – a condition [presumed to be from his experience at Ground Zero](). He spent the remainder of his life at an LA hospice center for dogs. He died at 16 years old. Before the heroic dog died, Symington entered Trakr in the ["Best Friends Again" essay contest](), sponsored by BioArts International – one of the first pet cloning biotech companies. It was a giveaway contest. Trakr's DNA was sent to a lab in South Korea [where five puppies were bred from the sample](); Trustt, Solace, Valor, Prodigy, and Deja Vu. Normally this service would cost more than $140,000 per dog*.* ![]() *Five puppies cloned from Trakr, a German shepherd, who made headlines by rescuing victims from the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Yonhap News photo)* All five pups were trained by Symington to follow in Trakr's pawsteps, and each becoming rescue dogs themselves. ![]() *Five German shepherds, shown with owner James Symington. Symington is training the dogs to help in search and rescue efforts throughout the world. (Photo courtesy of Team Trakr)* ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()