Mumbai, Aug 19 (Mid-day): The mumbai police lost one of their loyal canine companions yesterday morning. Rex, as he was fondly known, was a Labrador who had been working with the Mumbai police since 2009. He was an important part of their Anti-Sabotage Team.

Rex had been suffering from a liver a liver infection for a month and was admitted to Bai Sakharbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital in Parel.

After his death, the Mumbai Police is now left with only five other dogs — Snowy, Browny, Lucky, Oscar and Mylo.

Constable Ajit Nigudkar, who handled Rex, remembers him as an extremely active dog. Speaking of the various assignments Rex has been on, Nigudkar says, “Rex joined the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad (BDDS) in June 2009, after the 26/11 blasts. Since then, he has been a part of assignments involving hoax calls, inspection of unidentified baggage, etc. He did some of his best work during the 2011 blasts at Zaveri Bazaar, Dadar and Opera House. There was no chance of anything being left out when he was with us. He was a clever and capable dog. ”

Rex was cremated behind the hospital’s premises by the police and his handler Nigudkar. Rex was born on January 28, 2008, and underwent training in Pune for six months before joining the Mumbai Police. The Mumbai Police’s BDDS is likely to get six more dogs once they finish their training in Pune. One of their dogs, Prince, had passed away in November last year due to kidney failure.