The Dunedin police dog section is mourning the loss of patrol dog Gill who died of cancer on Sunday.
Gill, 10, was the elder statesman of the section's police dogs and was handled by Senior Constable Tim Roy, who fostered him from when he was an eight-week-old puppy.
Snr Constable Roy said in a statement Gill was amazing up until the end.
"Gill was everything I could have asked for and more as a handler. He was big, strong, fearless, super driven, loved to work and [was] known for his deafening excited howl when being deployed."
Snr Constable Roy and Gill had worked together for most of Gill's police dog career and were only separated when Gill stayed in Canterbury and worked with another handler for four years.
A police spokesperson said: "When the pair were reunited in Otago, it was as if they had never been apart."
Senior Constable Reuben Whalley who worked with the police dog in Christchurch said Gill was "a lovely dog," who could relax while at home and enjoy being with the family.
Head of the Dunedin Dog Section Sergeant Mike Calvert said Gill was an exceptionally strong police dog.
"He also thrived as an AOS-[Armed Offenders Squad] qualified dog, and as recently as last month was taking part in AOS callouts and training days."
Gill was born on May 14, 2012, at the Police Dog Training Centre in Trentham, Upper Hutt.
He became an operational police dog on September 20, 2013, a police spokesperson said in a statement.
In 2016, Gill fathered a litter of police pups, including Whanganui police dog South.
"Gill just loved to please his handler, whether responding to jobs or taking part in the softer side of community policing, including community events and Christmas parades," Sgt Calvert said,
Although Gill didn't get to enjoy his retirement, his memory has lived on in the Police Dog Trust Calendar for 2023.
