In Taiwan, New Taipei City Fire Department’s search and rescue dog “Mulan” successfully passed from the basic to advanced certifications, participated in numerous rescue missions, but unfortunately lost the battle to illness recently. Her passing due to cancer left her fellow firefighters saddened. Handler Lai Guanjie tearfully expressed her gratitude for the privilege of meeting Mulan, always feeling touched and proud of her.
According to reports from the Central News Agency, during the Taiwan Hualien earthquake, many search and rescue dogs bravely navigated dangerous environments, showing courage and dedication amid the rubble. However, Mulan, who had risked her life on multiple occasions, has now been relieved of her duties.
Mulan was born in 2018 and joined the New Taipei City Fire Department as a search and rescue dog when she was less than half a year old. She was fortunate to have met her loving handler Lai Guanjie, and together they worked towards achieving the advanced certification from the International Rescue Dog Organization (IRO) for rubble search and rescue missions.
The bond of trust between handler and dog showcased mutual reliance and led them to pass the advanced certification for rubble search and rescue, setting a record of 100% success rate for the New Taipei City Fire Department’s search and rescue dogs from basic to advanced certifications. Mulan, alongside her handler, participated in various major incidents such as the 2017 coach overturning accident, 2018 Hualien earthquake, 2021 Huopao accident, and 2023 Typhoon Kanu mudslide in Ren’ai Township, Nantou.
However, in June 2022, Mulan was diagnosed with a lump in her chest, which turned out to be a skin mast cell tumor, classified as stage 2 cancer with regional lymph node metastasis. Despite active treatment efforts by the Fire Department, Mulan’s condition deteriorated last year, leading to surgery and hospitalization. She passed away on April 24th this year.
During the last two months of Mulan’s life, the cancer had affected her nervous and respiratory systems, rendering her limbs immobile. Even in the face of such challenges, the handlers prepared mobility aids for her and captured precious interactions on video, compiling them into a heartfelt tribute to Mulan’s vibrant life. The news of Mulan’s passing quickly spread among her firefighter companions on social media, with comments filled with sorrow and nostalgia for her energetic spirit.
Watching the video of Mulan’s joyful moments, shedding tears yet smiling, her handler Lai Guanjie remembered her as a fortunate soul for having the best partner in Mulan. She shared on Facebook about Mulan’s months-long battle with cancer, witnessing her decline in mobility and eventual peaceful departure on the first day of the holiday.
Lai expressed gratitude for the opportunity to have Mulan as her first search and rescue dog, acknowledging Mulan’s fearless, determined, and heroic qualities that redefined the meaning of her name within a short six-year span. She concluded by saying, “Thank you for letting me meet you, my dear Mulan. You will forever be remembered as a brave and resilient search and rescue dog, a true hero and warrior. It was a privilege to have crossed paths with you, and I will always be moved and proud of you.”