Friday marks 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, a seminal moment that drastically altered the landscape and psyche of American society
and the globe. As millions across the nation and world were captivated by the news and glued to their TVs, first responders and their loyal canine companions descended upon Ground Zero with one mission in mind: Recover the fallen.The 9/11 Memorial & Museum reported that more than 300 dogs were involved in the search, rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attacks.
In honor of the sacrifices made that day and the months after, USA TODAY Pets remembers some of the dogs
that went above and beyond their role as "man's best friend."
Bretagne
Bretagne (pronounced Brittany) was a renowned search-and-rescue dog who actually began her storied career at Ground Zero. This golden retriever was the last surviving dog that responded to the attacks; she was euthanized after battling kidney failure at the age of 16 in June 2016.
She was 2 years old when she and her handler, Denise Corliss, joined Texas Task Force 1 at the site of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Corliss and her partner spent 10 days at Ground Zero searching the devastation for human remains.
Following her death, firefighters from the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department in Texas honored Bretagne's life as a salute to her service. According to the 9/11 Memorial Museum, she responded to disasters all around America throughout her search and rescue career, including the New Orleans communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
"Some may say that the most a dog could be is a pet. However, to the over 400 members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero and is family," the department said in a statement. "We will remember her fondly, and continue serving the community with her as inspiration."
Bretagne's legacy lives on at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, where a cobblestone is dedicatedto the dog and her handler.
Apollo
According to the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Apollo and his handler, New York Police Department officer Peter Davis, were among the first K9s who responded to Ground Zero. They were one of several units that rotated on 12-hour shifts to sift through the rubble in the effort to locate thousands of victims.
The job, of course, was a harrowing one. With no hope of finding survivors, the operation's main purpose was to find victims.
At one point during the response, Apollo fell through a hole in the rubble. PDSA said flames emerged from the hole shortly after, but Apollo quickly escaped and managed to avoid serious burns since he had been accidentally soaked with water just before falling in.
"Following this terrifying moment, Apollo and his handler quickly returned to their work, displaying the gallantry and devotion to duty that the PDSA Dickin Medal seeks to recognize and celebrate," the website stated in a post that recognized Apollo with that distinction.
Apollo was later chosen via a vote to represent all the search and rescue dogs who contributed to the first responder efforts at both the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
Roselle
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum said Michael Hingson, who is blind, was led to safety by his calm guide dog, Roselle, down dozens of flights of stairs after the first plane struck the World Trade Center's North Tower. Hingson had set up a conference room for a breakfast meeting moments before the crash, and Roselle was sleeping at his feet.
As the tower swayed and loud booms reverberated through the building, Roselle kept her composure, leading Hingson down 78 flights of stairs as they safely made it out of the building before it collapsed at 10:28 a.m.
Hingson credited his dog's calm, professional demeanor for making him feel like he was in no immediate danger during the evacuation. A decade after the terrorist attacks, Hingson published a book titled "Thunder Dog: The Story of a Blind Man, a Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero" relaying the duo's inspiring tale.
That same year, Roselle died in June. Higson and his wife, Karen, created Roselle's Dream foundation in her honor. It's a nonprofit organization that supports people who are blind by providing them with technology that assists them in navigating the world.
It's a fitting tribute keeping Roselle's heroic legacy alive.
Salty
Salty, another guide dog, took a different approach to save his owner, Omar Rivera. The PDSA said Rivera was prepared to follow the advice of fire services and stay at his desk on the 71st floor, but Salty was agitated and adamant to leave. Following Salty's lead, Rivera and a co-worker, Donna Enright, made their way for the stairs and started down.
The mass exodus of people trying to escape combined with the intense heat in the stairwell caused panic, and Rivera thought they wouldn't make it, so he let Salty off his harness so he could finish the escape.
After a few moments, Rivera felt a nudge against his leg and realized that his dog came back to help guide him away from danger.
“Salty was nervous, but he was very concentrated on his duty. He and Donna were my angels that day. Many people saw what happened, but I heard it. The sounds of walls cracking, pipes popping, people screaming — it still echoes in my ears," Rivera said.
Together, Salty and Rivera escaped the building moments before it entirely collapsed.
Sirius
Sirius was the lone dog that died during the 9/11 search-and-rescue effort, according to the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery. Sirius' handler, Port Authority Police Department Lt. David Lim, was in the basement below the South Tower with his dog when the building started trembling violently.
Lim, who felt obligated to immediately respond to help the injured, secured Sirius in his kennel before investigating the scene. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum said Lim reassured his partner "I'll be back for you."
After surviving the North Tower's collapse, Lim's first instinct was to locate Sirius, but he was rushed to a hospital to treat his injuries. Tragically, Sirius couldn't be rescued from underground.
His remains were later recovered from the South Tower's wreckage in the winter of 2002. Sirius was removed from Ground Zero with a full honor guard, the same respect given to Port Authority officers.
In the years since the attack, Lim donated Sirius' training leash and a badge to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which now act as a symbol honoring his life.
Sirius has a plot honoring him at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery's War Dog Memorial; it sits alongside other exceedingly loyal canines who served as "defense dogs" in World War II. Lim still has Sirius' cremated remains with him at home, a testament to the handler's loyalty to his partner.
Although dogs have been a part of the human family for thousands of years, it's stories like these that put into perspective how truly remarkable they can be.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dogs of 9/11: Going beyond the role of 'man's best friend'
