The hero dogs of 9/11: Remembering them 25 years later

Metro looks back at the dogs that helped find and save people during the 9/11 attacks. (Picture: Hero Paws)

No one could ever forget the heroic efforts of the workers who saved lives during the 9/11 attacks in New York.

But many of us often don’t think about the hundreds of dogs who were part of the rescue mission of the September 11th attack, which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people, including dozens of children.

These hero dogs worked for hours and found survivors, saved those from burning buildings, and helped reunite family members with each other and their belongings.

Today, on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Metro remembers their legacy and how man’s best friend helped to save the lives of thousands of people.

Apollo

Apollo was the very first dog to arrive at the site of the attack and aid in recovery efforts. (Picture: Hero Paws)

Apollo, a German shepherd, was the first rescue dog to arrive at the site of the attack.

He rushed to the scene with his handler, Peter Davis, and nearly lost his life to flames and falling debris, but managed to survive after falling into a pool of water and continued working.

Apollo received the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, on behalf of the search and rescue dogs who took part in the rescue operations at the World Trade Center site and the Pentagon.

He sadly passed away in November 2006.

Trakr

Trakr was named one of history’s most heroic animals. (Photo: AFP)

Trakr, another German shepherd, worked at the scene despite entering retirement in May 2001 before the horrifying attacks.

He, along with handler James Symington, drove 15 hours to help recovery efforts and found the last survivor of the 9/11 attacks who had been trapped under the rubble for 27 hours.

Genelle Guzman-McMillan, an assistant with the Port Authority of New York, was on the 13th floor of the South Tower when it fell, and she was found on the morning of September 12.

During recovery efforts, Trakr collapsed from smoke inhalation, exhaustion and burns. He was treated for his injuries before returning home in Canada.

Named one of history’s most heroic animals by Time magazine, Trakr suffered from a degenerative neurological disorder experts believe was caused by his work at Ground Zero.

He died in 2009, but his DNA was entered into a cloning contest in June 2005, and five Trakr clones were born shortly after.

Thunder

Handler Kent Olson and his dog, Thunder, were deployed from Lakewood, Washington, to search through the rubble for victims. (Photo: Andrea Booher/FEMA/Getty Images)

Thunder, who was usually deployed in the Washington area to look for victims and survivors of avalanches and possible drownings, was sent to search the rubble of the 9/11 attacks for victims with handler Kent Olson.

Details on how Thunder helped in recovery efforts are scarce, as are details about his life and handler Olson.

Bretagne

Golden retriever Bretagne worked for 10 days to help in recovery efforts with handler Denise Corliss.

Bretagne was the last surviving search dog who worked at Ground Zero after the attack.

The golden retriever was at the scene for 10 days, along with her handler Denise Corliss, helping to find victims and carry out rescue operations.

Following 9/11 recovery efforts, she was also deployed in response to Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Ivan, and many other disasters.

At 15, Corliss took Bretagne to the 9/11 memorial and enjoyed a taxi ride through Times Square. She was put to sleep at a veterinary clinic in Houston, Texas, in June 2016 at the age of 16.

In 2017, the retriever was honoured with a life-size bronze statue in the residential area of Cypress in Texas.

Coby and Guinness

Following their help in recovery efforts, Coby and Guinness returned to their home in Southern California. (Picture: Happy Tails Animal Rescue)

Two Labrador retrievers named Coby and Guinness were both deployed to help in recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. Both searched relentlessly through the rubble of the collapsed buildings, often for 12 hours during the night.

Both dogs found the remains of dozens of people and covered an area that went beyond the scope of anything they had both been trained for.

Coby, the black lab, was aged only six when he was sent to help. He died in 2011 after losing his hearing.

Details about Guinness, the yellow lab, are scarce, but both dogs returned home in Southern California before passing.

Sage

Sage was a border collie who searched through the rubble of the Pentagon in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. (Picture: American Kennel Club)

Border collie Sage, who became a search and rescue dog at the age of 18 months, scoured the rubble of the Pentagon where she found the body of one of the hijackers of Flight 77.

She was later deployed to Iraq in 2007 to search for U.S. soldiers captured or killed by insurgents.

Sage also helped with rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina and Rita, was named a 2011 Hero Dog by the American Humane Association, but suffered from two forms of respiratory cancer.

It is unknown when Sage passed.

Jake

Jake was a stray dog with multiple health problems before he was nursed back to health and sent to help at the site of the attack. (Picture: AP)

Black Labrador Jake was a stray dog with a broken leg and injured hip who was rescued at 10 months old.

He was nursed back to health by his handler, Mary Flood, and was flown from Utah to New York to help in search and rescue efforts at the site of 9/11.

Working for a total of 17 days, Jake searched for survivors and human remains at the site before he was treated to a steak dinner at a fancy New York restaurant.

He also went on to help with recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina, where he successfully found and helped rescue survivors. Later in life, Jake worked as a therapy dog for children and the elderly.

After being taken for one last walk near his home by Mary Flood, he was put to sleep in 2007.

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