He was the only land search and rescue dog north of Taupo, but when Jack the blue heeler was hit by a car it looked like his working days were over.
Jack suffered massive internal bleeding and was not expected to survive. But surgeons knew that Jack was a tough dog and wanted to operate.
But Jack's operations were not cheap, costing $10,000 to $12,000.
"We didn't have that money personally, but we knew he was a really valuable tool for the community and we wanted to try and get him back to work," search and rescue volunteer Malcolm York said.
After Jack's plight was covered by the local media, the public donated three-times what was needed.
But no one knew whether Jack would ever be a search dog again. But after 20 months of recovery, the special canine re-qualified and was back in action.
Jack has been part of countless high profile searches, including the search for Iraena Asher who went missing in Piha four years ago.
And when Jack is not out assisting search and rescue, he is a much-loved family dog.