True heroes of 9/11

September will always be a month we remember the dreadful 9/11 incident where the world witnessed a terrifying event, all because of our own folly of NOT being able to understand that are are one and the same. 


So, while humans suffered tremendous pain and loss in this tragedy, some of our furry friends helped make this suffering a little lighter by doing what they know best – to obey and make us happy.  


These are the dogs who were used as rescue “workers” during the 9/11 tragedy. I have always believed that it is unfair to use animals in any way that may endanger their lives, especially in solving foolish human-created conflicts. Nevertheless, these dogs had been used, and they answered to their call of duty beyond what any other human could have or would have done – with unquestionable loyalty and unconditional love.


I salute these dogs. May the heavens shower life’s most beautiful blessings on them.


Received from my cousin, in a forwarded email:

These are the dogs that worked the Trade Center that are still alive but retired, they are heroes too!!! Their eyes say everything you need to know about them. Just amazing creatures!

True heroes of 9/11 still with us today…

Moxie, 13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler, Mark Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days.

Tara, 16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts, arrived at the World Trade Center on the night of the 11th. The dog and her handler Lee Prentiss were there for eight days.

Kaiser, 12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in the rubble.

Bretagne and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days!

Guinness, 15, from Highland, California, started work at the site with Sheila McKee on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11 days.

Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days.

Red, 11, from Annapolis, Maryland, went with Heather Roche to the Pentagon from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines.

Another unnamed hero who worked tireless at Ground Zero.

Abigail, above, was deployed on the evening of September 17, searching for 10 days while Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00 pm on the day of attack to start working early the next day.

Handler Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from their home in Denver on September 24 and searched for five days.

Scout and another unknown dog lie among the rubble at Ground Zero, just two of the nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search for survivors. During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors. Now, ten years on, just 12 of these heroic canines survive, and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled “Retrieved”.    


The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.

Traveling across nine states in the US from Texas to Maryland, Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas, 34, captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their homes where they still live with their handlers, a full decade on from 9/11. Their stories have now been compiled in a book, called Retrieved, which is published on Friday, the tenth anniversary of the attacks. Noted for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs, Charlotte wanted Retrieved to mark not only the anniversary of the September 2001 attacks, but also as recognitions for some of the first responders and their dogs. 

‘I felt this was a turning point, especially for the dogs, who although are not forgotten, are not as prominent as the human stories involved,’ explained Charlotte, who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam. ‘They speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective.’

Now, please go give your dog(s) and cat(s) a big hug, and tell them they are heroes in your heart!


Have a great day!