In a poignant and touching moment, the Fire and Rescue Department bid farewell to one of its own, Blake, a courageous canine who played a vital role in search and rescue missions, particularly in the aftermath of the Batang Kali landslide.
Blake, a seven-year-old English Springer Spaniel, had been battling stage four lymphoma for the past month, and sadly, his journey came to an end.
Photo via Facebook (KPKT Malaysia)
On Monday, 18 September, the decision was made to ease Blake's suffering by putting him to sleep. Veterinarian Dr. Nur Alimah Rahman, deeply saddened by the situation, agreed that this was the best course of action as Blake's health was deteriorating rapidly.
Originally from the UK, Blake had joined the Fire and Rescue Department's K9 team in 2017. Last month, he was diagnosed with stage four cancer, which led to his admission to the Veterinary Faculty at University Putra Malaysia (UPM). Despite the dedicated efforts of the veterinary team, Blake did not respond to the treatment, allowing the cancerous cells to spread throughout his body.
Dr. Nur Alimah emphasized that there was no hope of recovery for Blake, and the decision to euthanize him was made with the utmost compassion to prevent further suffering.
In a statement, the Ministry of Local Government Development expressed their deep appreciation for Blake's contributions. They noted that he had played a significant role in numerous search operations conducted by the Fire and Rescue Department nationwide. His remarkable abilities were instrumental in locating drowning victims in Kampung Kenangan, Selangor, addressing the water surge tragedy near Yan, Kedah, and assisting during the flooding in Kampung Temelong, Karak, Pahang.
ANJING PENGESAN ‘BLAKE’ HIDAP BARAH LYMPHOMA TELAH TIADA Blake, Anjing Pengesan milik Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat...
Posted by KPKT Malaysia on Tuesday, 19 September 2023
Blake's dedication and hard work touched the hearts of many, especially during the Batang Kali landslide tragedy in December last year. His unwavering commitment was so profound that he pushed himself to the limit, even passing out from exhaustion during a search.
Blake, the brave and selfless search dog, will be dearly missed by the Fire and Rescue Department and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy of heroism and dedication will forever be remembered as a source of inspiration.
