09/11/2024
They suffered burns, cuts, and dehydration as they sorted through rubble of the World Trade Center for hours on 9/11, looking for survivors and human remains. They were the search and rescue dogs at ground zero.
One dog, Apollo, survived after being engulfed in flames. Another dog was saved after falling almost 50 feet.
About 350 dogs relentlessly searched "the pile" for months, often becoming depressed when their search yielded no results, according to veterinarians, humane society members, and others who were at the scene who spoke with ABC news."
The last known surviving search and rescue dog from the 9/11 attacks, Bretagne, died on June 6, 2016, at the age of 16. She was euthanized at a veterinary office in Cypress, Texas, due to kidney failure.
Bretagne was a golden retriever who was one of the first search dogs to be deployed to the World Trade Center site after the attacks. She was honored for her service and invited to New York City for her 16th birthday, where she was treated to a hotel room, a burger, toys, and a billboard in Times Square.