Huntaway cross Fin was just hours into retirement when his expertise was called on again in the search for three students lost in thick fog on Mt Cargill on Sunday night.
Fin's owner, Dermot Mayock, said the rescue was the last mission for the 12-year-old pooch.
``He's still very fit but he's started to slow down over the last few years.''
Fin's involvement in Sunday night's search was a case of right place at the right time, Mr Mayock said.
``We were at the fire station and I wasn't sure if the other dogs were in town, so he did come.''
Some of the pair's other searches had been more painstaking. Mr Mayock and Fin spent about five weeks searching in a team for Israeli woman Liat Okin, who went missing on the Routeburn track in 2008.
After weeks of searching, Fin discovered Ms Okin's backpack, which led to the discovery of her body, Mr Mayock said.
``That was quite amazing to be part of that search ...
``It is very important to give closure to the family.''
Fin was given a ``huge hug'' from Ms Okin's mother in thanks for finding her daughter's body.
Last month, Fin helped search for and recover missing Dunedin man Stephen Lowe.
Mr Mayock said his dog had been involved in finding three bodies and countless missing people. The 34kg searcher was ``ready to go, day or night''.
Fin will continue his ``day job'' as an assistant dog at the School of Veterinary Nursing.
Mr Mayock is looking for another puppy to train in search and rescue, and believes Fin will set a great example.
In between working with veterinary students, Fin is likely to be found sleeping in his bed by the fire, blissfully unaware of all the people he has helped.
