Daily Animal news

Best daily news ~ Animals related!

The Last Surviving 9/11 Rescue Dog Will Be Remembered As A Hero Forever

Bretagne, who died last week at the age of 16, made an unmistakable impact on history. A dog’s time on earth is all too fleeting in comparison to the enduring effect they make on our lives – but few have left such an indelible stamp on history as Bretagne.

Bretagne was barely a year old when she was deployed to Ground Zero with members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department’s K9 Search & Rescue Team from Texas in the days following the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Bretagne spent weeks exploring the debris with her owner and handler, Denise Corliss, for survivors and the remains of those who had perished, while also providing mental respite to her fellow rescuers.

Bretagne’s valiant efforts at Ground Zero would not be the last time she stood up in a national emergency. Later, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, she participated in similarly courageous rescue attempts.

Bretagne formally left the military, but she continued to help her community in various ways. She had been a regular visitor to local elementary schools since then, until only a few weeks before her death, providing frightened pupils a patient audience to help them practice reading.

Bretagne was named the final surviving canine responder in the aftermath of 9/11 last year. On the 14th anniversary of that tragic day, Bretagne came to Ground Zero to pay respect to those who had died, her face now visibly marked by time.

Corliss took the heartbreaking choice to stop Bretagne’s suffering when her health began to deteriorate in recent weeks. Hundreds of military members came on Monday to bid her farewell on her final walk, honouring her as both a coworker and a friend.

Bretagne’s years of devoted labor and all the lives she’s affected may never be fully quantified, but her legacy will go on forever in the hearts of those who knew her best.

“Some may think that the most a dog can be is a pet, but Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero, and family to the nearly 400 members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department,” the department stated in a statement. “We shall cherish her memory and continue to serve the community in her honor.”