Hero Dogs 🐕 of 9/11
👇 🐕 👇
Following the 9/11 attacks, over 300 dogs worked tirelessly at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Alongside their handlers, these canines performed dangerous search-and-rescue and recovery missions, provided comfort to grieving people, and served as beacons of hope amid the devastation.
Search-and-rescue and recovery dogs
- Apollo: As a German Shepherd with the New York Police Department (NYPD) K-9 unit, Apollo was the first search-and-rescue dog to arrive at Ground Zero, just 15 minutes after the South Tower collapsed. He worked 18-hour shifts for weeks and once narrowly escaped death from falling fire and debris because he had been wet from falling into a pool of water. He received the Dickin Medal—the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross—for his heroism.
- Bretagne: A Golden Retriever from Texas Task Force 1, Bretagne was the last surviving search-and-rescue dog to have worked at Ground Zero. She arrived when she was just two years old and spent 10 days searching the rubble with her handler, Denise Corliss. She later responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ivan. Bretagne passed away in 2016 at age 16 and received a hero's salute from firefighters as she entered the veterinary clinic for the last time.
- Coby and Guinness: This pair of Labrador Retrievers traveled from Southern California with their handlers to assist at the World Trade Center site. The dogs worked 12-hour shifts for 11 days, locating the remains of dozens of victims. They continued their search-and-rescue careers after 9/11 and aided in other natural disaster efforts.
- Jake: Rescued from the streets and trained for search-and-rescue, this Black Labrador worked 17 straight days at Ground Zero. He later volunteered as a therapy dog for burn victims and also helped with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
- Riley: A Golden Retriever from Pennsylvania Task Force 1, Riley was known for his tireless search for survivors. When the mission shifted from rescue to recovery, he helped locate the remains of fallen firefighters. An iconic photo shows him being transported in a basket over the debris. He was also known for comforting exhausted first responders.
- Sage: A Border Collie who was FEMA-certified at only 18 months old, Sage was deployed to the Pentagon. She was instrumental in sniffing out the remains of one of the terrorists. Later, she assisted with rescue efforts during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and was deployed to Iraq.
- Trakr: This retired German Shepherd police dog from Halifax, Canada, drove 15 hours to Ground Zero with his handler, James Symington. Just 27 hours after the towers collapsed, Trakr found the last survivor, Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was trapped under 30 feet of debris. Days later, Trakr collapsed from exhaustion and smoke inhalation but recovered.
Hero Dogs🐕 of 9/11
👇 🐕 👇
Following the 9/11 attacks, over 300 dogs worked tirelessly at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Alongside their handlers, these canines performed dangerous search-and-rescue and recovery missions, provided comfort to grieving people, and served as beacons of hope amid the devastation.
Search-and-rescue and recovery dogs
- Apollo: As a German Shepherd with the New York Police Department (NYPD) K-9 unit, Apollo was the first search-and-rescue dog to arrive at Ground Zero, just 15 minutes after the South Tower collapsed. He worked 18-hour shifts for weeks and once narrowly escaped death from falling fire and debris because he had been wet from falling into a pool of water. He received the Dickin Medal—the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross—for his heroism.
- Bretagne: A Golden Retriever from Texas Task Force 1, Bretagne was the last surviving search-and-rescue dog to have worked at Ground Zero. She arrived when she was just two years old and spent 10 days searching the rubble with her handler, Denise Corliss. She later responded to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ivan. Bretagne passed away in 2016 at age 16 and received a hero's salute from firefighters as she entered the veterinary clinic for the last time.
- Coby and Guinness: This pair of Labrador Retrievers traveled from Southern California with their handlers to assist at the World Trade Center site. The dogs worked 12-hour shifts for 11 days, locating the remains of dozens of victims. They continued their search-and-rescue careers after 9/11 and aided in other natural disaster efforts.
- Jake: Rescued from the streets and trained for search-and-rescue, this Black Labrador worked 17 straight days at Ground Zero. He later volunteered as a therapy dog for burn victims and also helped with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
- Riley: A Golden Retriever from Pennsylvania Task Force 1, Riley was known for his tireless search for survivors. When the mission shifted from rescue to recovery, he helped locate the remains of fallen firefighters. An iconic photo shows him being transported in a basket over the debris. He was also known for comforting exhausted first responders.
- Sage: A Border Collie who was FEMA-certified at only 18 months old, Sage was deployed to the Pentagon. She was instrumental in sniffing out the remains of one of the terrorists. Later, she assisted with rescue efforts during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina and was deployed to Iraq.
- Trakr: This retired German Shepherd police dog from Halifax, Canada, drove 15 hours to Ground Zero with his handler, James Symington. Just 27 hours after the towers collapsed, Trakr found the last survivor, Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was trapped under 30 feet of debris. Days later, Trakr collapsed from exhaustion and smoke inhalation but recovered.
Guide and comfort dogs
- Roselle: A guide dog who was with her blind owner, Michael Hingson, on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. Roselle calmly and expertly guided Hingson down 78 flights of stairs and away from the collapsing tower. She received a Dickin Medal and was posthumously named American Hero Dog of the Year.
- Salty: This guide dog was on the 71st floor of the North Tower with his owner, Omar Rivera. Salty refused to leave Rivera's side and led him down to safety, even when Rivera tried to release him. Salty was also awarded a Dickin Medal for his devotion.
- Nikie: A Golden Retriever, Nikie served as a therapy dog to comfort first responders and provide crisis intervention. He worked at Ground Zero for nine months and provided emotional support to rescue workers throughout the recovery effort.
- Sirius: An explosive detection dog, Sirius was working with his handler for the Port Authority Police Department in the South Tower's basement. His handler, David Lim, survived the collapse, but Sirius was killed. He is believed to be the only canine to die in the 9/11 attack. His remains were recovered and removed with full police honors.
Hero Dogs Of 9/11 - Documentary
👇 📺 👇
https://youtu.be/CoYRPg-xxVE?si=MxLm6SJNpADs1lY2
👇 📺 👇
https://youtu.be/CoYRPg-xxVE?si=MxLm6SJNpADs1lY2
Are there memorials dedicated to 9/11 canine heroes?
Several memorials honor the heroic dogs of 9/11, most notably at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.
Several memorials honor the heroic dogs of 9/11, most notably at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.
New York
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
The museum has featured several exhibitions and displays dedicated to the service animals of 9/11.
🐕 Plaque for Sirius: A
plaque within the museum is specifically dedicated to Sirius, the Port
Authority Police Department K-9 who was killed in the South Tower.
🐕 "K-9 Courage" Exhibit: This past temporary exhibition honored the hundreds of dogs involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.
National September 11 Memorial (outdoor plaza):
Bretagne, the last surviving search-and-rescue dog to work at Ground
Zero, is honored with a cobblestone bearing her name near one of the
memorial fountains.Farmingdale State University (Long Island): The university's 9/11 Memorial Garden is home to one of two "9/11 Rescue Dog" sculptures created by artist Liza Todd Tivey. The statue was crafted with rubble from the World Trade Center and is dedicated to the canine heroes.
New Jersey
Essex County Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial
A bronze statue of a search-and-rescue dog stands at this memorial. The statue rests on a base resembling the rubble of Ground Zero to honor the heroic canine units.
Mississippi
Southaven Animal Control Shelter
A plaque honoring Sam, a Border Collie-Chow mix who worked at Ground Zero with his handler Richard Clark, was added to an existing memorial.
Artistic tributes
Ron Burns' artwork: Renowned artist Ron Burns painted vibrant portraits of many of the canine heroes of 9/11, including Sirius. His work helps immortalize their service.
Guide and comfort dogs
- Roselle: A guide dog who was with her blind owner, Michael Hingson, on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. Roselle calmly and expertly guided Hingson down 78 flights of stairs and away from the collapsing tower. She received a Dickin Medal and was posthumously named American Hero Dog of the Year.
- Salty: This guide dog was on the 71st floor of the North Tower with his owner, Omar Rivera. Salty refused to leave Rivera's side and led him down to safety, even when Rivera tried to release him. Salty was also awarded a Dickin Medal for his devotion.
- Nikie: A Golden Retriever, Nikie served as a therapy dog to comfort first responders and provide crisis intervention. He worked at Ground Zero for nine months and provided emotional support to rescue workers throughout the recovery effort.
- Sirius: An explosive detection dog, Sirius was working with his handler for the Port Authority Police Department in the South Tower's basement. His handler, David Lim, survived the collapse, but Sirius was killed. He is believed to be the only canine to die in the 9/11 attack. His remains were recovered and removed with full police honors.
Hero Dogs Of 9/11 - Documentary
👇 📺 👇
https://youtu.be/CoYRPg-xxVE?si=MxLm6SJNpADs1lY2
👇 📺 👇
https://youtu.be/CoYRPg-xxVE?si=MxLm6SJNpADs1lY2
Are there memorials dedicated to 9/11 canine heroes?
Several memorials honor the heroic dogs of 9/11, most notably at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.
Several memorials honor the heroic dogs of 9/11, most notably at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.
New York
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
The museum has featured several exhibitions and displays dedicated to the service animals of 9/11.
🐕 Plaque for Sirius: A plaque within the museum is specifically dedicated to Sirius, the Port Authority Police Department K-9 who was killed in the South Tower.
🐕 "K-9 Courage" Exhibit: This past temporary exhibition honored the hundreds of dogs involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.
National September 11 Memorial (outdoor plaza): Bretagne, the last surviving search-and-rescue dog to work at Ground Zero, is honored with a cobblestone bearing her name near one of the memorial fountains.Farmingdale State University (Long Island): The university's 9/11 Memorial Garden is home to one of two "9/11 Rescue Dog" sculptures created by artist Liza Todd Tivey. The statue was crafted with rubble from the World Trade Center and is dedicated to the canine heroes.
New Jersey
Essex County Eagle Rock September 11th Memorial
A bronze statue of a search-and-rescue dog stands at this memorial. The statue rests on a base resembling the rubble of Ground Zero to honor the heroic canine units.
Mississippi
Southaven Animal Control Shelter
A plaque honoring Sam, a Border Collie-Chow mix who worked at Ground Zero with his handler Richard Clark, was added to an existing memorial.
Artistic tributes
Ron Burns' artwork: Renowned artist Ron Burns painted vibrant portraits of many of the canine heroes of 9/11, including Sirius. His work helps immortalize their service.
