For the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we here at Race for Life Rescue want to honor the bravery of the search and rescue dogs (SAR) who worked tirelessly to save lives at Ground Zero. These dogs had to be extensively trained to specialize in disaster response skills and certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Their skillset included elite sensory perception to identify and track scents, physical agility to comb through varied environments, environmental stability to behave appropriately in stressful situations, and strong obedience to commands from their handlers. Furthermore, they had to be able to work 4 – 8 hours straight, combing through the dust and rubble of Ground Zero.
SAR dogs begin training as early as 8 – 10 weeks old. Training sessions include extensive fitness, agility, perseverance, and obedience training. However, the most important piece of their training is how to communicate various signals to their handlers. They can be certified for the field as early as 12 months old. Their “paycheck” includes either toys or food rewards depending on the temperament of the dog. Since the job is physically demanding, they often retire when they are 5 – 10 years old. These hard-working dogs enjoy a well-deserved retirement, often alongside their former handlers as much-loved additions to the family.
In the aftermath of 9/11, SAR dogs were tasked with finding survivors buried in the rubble. They searched through ash and mountains of rubble filled with crushed concrete and twisted steel at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Staten Island landfill. According to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, for days, weeks, and months after the attacks, more than 300 dogs took part in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. 27 hours after the collapse, the last living person rescued from Ground Zero was found by one of these dogs.
Working at Ground Zero was mentally and physically taxing on the dogs. Working such long hours with little payoff began to make them discouraged and lose their search drive. To combat this, their handlers would stage a “mock find” so the dogs could feel successful and to keep their motivation high. Using their elite senses and ability to go into spaces where humans could not, these heroes helped identify many of the nearly 3,000 people at the site.
Last June, the last known surviving search and rescue dog that worked in the aftermath of September 11th, Bretagne, was laid to rest. While they might not be with us anymore, the SAR dogs’ legacy remains.
They are remembered not just as loving companions but as brave heroes who rose to the occasion even in the event of a national tragedy and fought to preserve and protect the lives of those trapped at Ground Zero. For the 25th anniversary of 9/11, join us in remembering the four-legged heroes and their human handlers who valiantly served at Ground Zero.
* Photos by Andrea Booher / FEMA / Public Domain
* Photos courtesy of the National Archives
