Remembering Tank
“When I started working with Tank, I didn’t think he knew how to walk because he hopped everywhere earning the nickname “Tigger” for the longest time. For a small Lab he had a four-foot vertical and always had to “one-up” any other K9 around with his antics. He would work longer, play harder, bark louder, making sure anyone nearby knew he was there.
Tank was given up by his first handler for “working too fast” and ended up in our lives. I adjusted to his speedy ways and he proved it wasn’t an issue by passing all his certifications on the first try. He loved working and we had the safest parking lot on the block as he swept it each morning but also knew how to relax as he laid on our shoes at night to make sure we didn’t leave him. He would work so fast at times that he would bust his head on something and look at me like I put it in his way and then go right back to work like nothing happened.
Other handlers were surprised to hear that a Lab was a toy reward K9 instead of food, but Tank loved his Tennis ball, water bottles and Kong (in that order) at work. He would still inhale 5 cups of food a day to keep his ripped physique and his ideal weight while working.
He looked at everything as a challenge to overcome. After both of his hip surgeries, he shocked his surgeon by standing on the repaired hip immediately after surgery, all the while she protested how he shouldn’t be doing that already. Waiting three weeks was not good enough for recovery. After three days, he had to be kenneled because he was jumping on the couch.
Retirement wasn’t his choice, and he didn’t like staying home but he took on the role of being a big little brother to his older sister and protected her. He eventually took on the role of mentor to his younger brother and showed him how to get whatever he wanted by manipulating the humans by batting those big brown eyes.
Tank loved people and was known to be a gigantic flirt. He found ways to get their attention from walking past and then backing up in a doorway to a room filled with women and giving them a head nod, distracting everyone from their work and ensuring nothing productive would happen until he was shown some love and affection.
During retirement, he really enjoyed participating in Paws of Honor and Hurricane’s Heroes events, where he got to be around a lot of people and get all the pets. He especially loved going to Mission BBQ where he coaxed them out of A LOT of brisket. He would still try to drag his alternate leash holder around the block to show he was still as strong as ever, even when she had to call dad to carry him up the hill to give him a break so he could finish the last bit on his own. He had a wagon, but it was obviously just for show and he would not stay in it, he was too proud. Tank was always very independent in public but loved to snuggle with his mommy and a stuffy at the end of the day. He was loved by so many people and he is missed terribly. Run free Tank, we have the watch from here…. Until we meet again.”
This blog was written by K9 Tank’s family. K9 Tank served with the Department of State until his retirement in 2019. After joining our program Tank was sponsored by K9 Hurricane’s Heroes and became very active in helping spread our mission. If you had the pleasure of meeting Tank at one of the many events he attended, you would know just how great his impact was and how much of a loving dog he was. We thank Tank for his service and helping create so many smiles. Rest easy, Tank, we will miss you greatly.
