We Say Goodbye To The Last Rescue Dog Of 9/11

The last of the dogs that had participated in rescue operations after the attacks of the so-called 9/11, in the USA, just died. It is a female specimen of the Golden Retriever breed , called Bretagne, who was fired with honors by members of Texas Task Force 1, where she had served as a rescue dog. until 2009.

B retagne, a rescue dog in the midst of the tragedy of the   World  Trade center

Bretagne, 16, was euthanized in a Houston Veterinary Clinic, due to kidney complications. Almost 15 years ago, together with his instructor Denise Corliss, had been shipped from Texas to New York k to search for survivors after the collapse of the Twin Towers.

The dog and Corliss spent 10 days in the disaster area. The woman remembers that dog , barely 2 years old at the time, reacted quickly to the terrible situation and right away began his task of searching for people under the rubble.

The animal was also part of the team s that helped the victims of the now famous Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city of New Orleans, in the US state of Louisiana.

The rescue dog, fired with honors

A large number of lifeguards escorted Bretagne to the veterinary center where she was euthanized (to here can you watch a video ) . And a US flag was placed over his lifeless body as a tribute.

A year earlier, Corli ss had taken the dog to visit the 9/11 memorial. In addition, the two participated in a report for the NBC network and even met with former President George W. Bush.

Bretagne  had become an ambassador for the retired rescue dogs. Thus he had visited a large number of primary schools. She was also nominated for the American Humane Association’s Hero Dog Award.

Bretagne, an ideal animal for rescue tasks

Corliss recalls that the first time he saw Bretagne he had the feeling that she was the one to become a great rescue dog. He was certainly a determined puppy.

Rescue dogs perform a fundamental task when it comes to detecting survivors in different types of disasters. And they are much more efficient and faster than any type of machine that is used for the same purposes.

Needless to say, in situations where the speed with which one acts can be the difference between life and death, the work of these beings becomes irreplaceable.

But they also achieve something that no technology has yet managed to develop: they can detect corpses under the rubble.

Rescue dogs, fundamental allies of man in disaster situations

A rescue dog adds to its great olfactory and auditory capacity, intuition and stubbornness. And Bretagne was, above all, persistent, Corliss recalls her.

When a dog detects a person – alive or dead – it begins to attract the attention of rescuers. For instance:

• Barks
• Go around the indicated place.
• He sits in place and does not move.

It would be good if the memory of Bretagne makes us reflect on all the good that dogs bring us to human beings. Hopefully we can reciprocate with all the love and respect that these animals deserve.

Photo source: Facebook Texas Task Force 1