The canine was nine years old. He and his handler, Officer Donald Golding, protected commuters at Kennedy Airport as well as other transportation hubs in the area.

Phoenix, a four-legged crime fighter who became the poster boy for the Port Authority’s K-9 Unit, died Wednesday after a short battle with cancer.

The German Shepherd joined the Port Authority in 2007 and became a vital member of its K-9 Explosive’s Detection Unit, where he sniffed thousands of unattended bags and packages at Kennedy Airport and other commuter hubs to make sure they weren’t containing explosives.

He and his handler, Port Authority Police Officer Donald Golding, were also involved in the Authority’s Community Outreach program, where children were able to meet them at public appearances.

Phoenix was assigned to the Port Authority K-9 Unit in February of 2007, serving the department with distinction for more than seven years.

Last July, Phoenix graced a poster highlighting the work of the K-9 Unit that read, “Some dogs protect their owners. Ours protect us all.”