By Christa Stout
Rescued, my favorite breed
They gave it their all
D
o you remember Bretagne, the golden retriever, who was the last surviving search and rescue dog from 9-11?
Or Jake, the black Labrador, who started life as an abandoned and injured dog, but thanks to his handler became a highly trained search and rescue dog. Bretagne and Jake spent many days searching through the rubble at ground zero, Bretagne was engaged for 10 days and Jake remained for 17 days. It was largely thanks to these dogs and many others like them that identifications were made of many of the people who succumbed, bringing somewhat of closure to survivors and relatives. The work was extremely hard and hazardous, they had to climb over sharp rocks, twisted metal, smoldering rocks and uneven ground,
and do so in unhealthy air, but they performed their work tirelessly. Both of these dogs continued their duties for many years and following 911, did search and rescue work after hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Ivan, as well as many other disaster sites. At the time of 911, not much was known about emotional therapy dogs, and it was this tragedy that brought out the best in dogs like Tikva who spent time with physically and emotionally exhausted first responders. Dogs like Tikva allowed these responders to go back to their duties without breakdowns.
Bretagne died of kidney failure at age 16. Jake was euthanized at age 9 when he was found shaking from 105 degree temperature caused by a blood-borne cancer. The tragedy of 911 did bring to the forefront the important work these canines and their handlers were and are doing and many more are deployed now, 20 years later. Search and rescue, as well as emotional support dogs have been used following school shootings, terroristic attacks on movie theaters, floods, tornadoes and many more disasters.
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