The Amazing Story of 9/11 Rescue Dogs

It’s been over two decades years since the hijacked planes hit the twin towers in New York City. Among the many heroes who braved this terror and stepped forth to the rescue, some were four-legged. In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, a remarkable team of rescuers descended upon Ground Zero. Among them were hundreds of specially trained dogs, their keen senses and unwavering determination playing a pivotal role in the search and rescue efforts. These four-legged heroes, certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), were equipped with unparalleled disaster response skills. Their primary mission was to locate survivors buried beneath the rubble, their sensitive noses capable of detecting even the faintest scent of human life.

9/11 Rescue Dogs

An estimated 300 rescue dogs scoured the rubble for signs of life in the aftermath of the twin tower tragedy. They didn’t have the protective gear, but worked tirelessly, to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble.

The rescue dogs acted as therapy for the brave firemen and rescue workers of the emergency services, their little ray of hope amid death and debris. Beyond their search and rescue efforts, therapy dogs like Nikie played a vital role in providing emotional support to the tireless firefighters and rescue workers at Ground Zero. These furry companions offered a much-needed respite from the surrounding devastation, even if only for a brief moment. During the recovery period, certified trauma responder Frank Shane and Nikie, a K-9 Disaster Relief therapy dog, would visit respite areas to comfort workers who toiled tirelessly to clear the wreckage. Their presence provided a sense of calm and solace amidst the chaos.

Despite the tireless efforts of rescue workers and their canine companions, only 20 survivors were pulled from the wreckage. Trackr, a retired Canadian police dog, made a remarkable discovery 27 hours after the collapse, finding the last survivor trapped beneath the debris.

Bretagne, the rescue dog, worked for over 12 hours a day looking for human survivors.

In 2015, Bretagne, who was the last surviving 9/11 rescue dog, returned to the site with her human Denise Corliss for the first time since the terror strike to celebrate her 16th birthday organized by various groups to honour the courage and compassion of the 9/11 Rescue Dogs at the face of tragedy.

Corliss and Bretagne later served at Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and Hurricane Ivan. Bretagne stopped searching six years ago and now visits an elementary school, where she helps first-graders and children with special needs learn how to read out loud.

Bretagne died at the age of 16 in 2016.

Sirius, the dog, was killed in the 9/11 Terror Attacks. He was an Explosive Detection Dog with the Port Authority of New York and the New Jersey Police Department.

Penn Vet Working Dog Center, a Philadelphia puppy ‘prep school’ honoured 9/11 search-and-rescue dogs by naming 97 of their trainee pups after them.

Sirius was the only police dog to die in the 9/11 attack as he was in his kennel at the bottom of the World Trade Center when it collapsed. Unfortunately, Sirius’ name is not engraved in the 9/11 Memorial as the foundation believes: “The memorial is only for the human victims.” But then, even without a placard with his name, Sirius shines on, like the star he was named after.

Thunder, a golden retriever from Washington, and his handler, Kent Olson, flew to New York City to assist in the monumental search and rescue mission. Despite the somber atmosphere, Thunder’s infectious optimism was a beacon of hope for those involved. In every photograph, his cheerful smile shone through, providing a much-needed ray of light during those dark days.

Thunder’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the boundless love and joy that dogs bring to our lives. Even in the face of adversity, their unwavering spirit can offer comfort and inspiration.

During the aftermath of 9/11, search and rescue dogs found so few living people that it caused them great stress because they believed they had failed. Handlers and rescue workers had to regularly hide in the rubble in order to give the rescue dogs a successful find and keep their spirits up.

Roselle, the guide dog, led her blind owner, Michael Hingson, from the 78th story of the North Tower, a staggering 1,463 steps out of the building to the safety of a subway station.

Salty, the guide dog for Omar E. Rivera, led Rivera and his co-workers to safety from the 71st floor of the Twin Towers.

Rivera recalls how they tried escaping down the nearest flight of stairs, but it was filled with smoke and became very hot. It was so crowded and so terrifying that Rivera thought it was too much for Salty. He let go of Salty’s harness so the dog could head down unfettered and alone.

“I tried to let him go down first for a few minutes, but he said, ‘No'” Rivera said. “He refused to leave me. He came back to me. He said, ‘We are together. As long as we are in here, we are together.'” They made it down to the street level, safe.

Very professional dog gets sworn in as a K9 victim assistance dog https://t.co/uDYJzlApZ2 #dogsoftwitter pic.twitter.com/1UzdE8YTgh

— Abhishek Joshi 👨‍💻🐶 (@kaalicharan) June 13, 2016

And if there’s any poetic justice, the dogs also helped in the nabbing of the terrorists behind 9/11 attack.

Here’s to the selfless service of all the rescue dogs – thank you! 

Connect with Dog with Blog on Facebook Twitter Instagram