Posted on 09/11/2003 5:06:26 PM PDT by Alouette
Not enough can be said about the heroic individuals, both bipeds and quadrupeds, who lend their abilities to the security and rescue efforts underway in the wake of last Tuesday's terrorist attack on America. With that said, here are a few pictures worth a few thousand words:
A police dog and her handler weave through the debris where the WTC south tower once stood. Rescue dogs like this one are trained to detect traces of sweat and other musky odors exuded by the body during stress. They are also able to distinguish between the living and the dead. (Photo: Sep 13, 2001, AP / Stephen Chernin)
U.S. President George W. Bush greets a Black Lab searcher dog after visiting the site of the World Trade Center attack in New York City. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, Reuters / Win McNamee)
One dog-tired rescue dog gets a drink of water during a rest break from searching through the rubble. This Golden Retriever, "Bear", was one of the first dogs to arrive on the scene and get right to work. A dedicated canine medical camp stands ready to treat for injuries and exhaustion. Canine ambulances are also on hand. (Photo: Sep 13, 2001, Reuters / Pool / Beth Kaiser)
A rescue dog is transported out of the debris of the World Trade Center. (Photo: Sep 15, 2001, US Navy / Preston Keres)
Grim faces and sad tails show the frustration—and the unshaken resolve—of rescuers from the Maryland Task Force Rescue Team on lunch break. Handlers say that dogs trained to find survivors feel as if it's their fault for not being able to find anyone. No survivors have been located since last Wednesday when canine search teams helped locate five injured people. (Photo: Sep 11, 2001, REUTERS / Mike Theiler)
John Patrick and cadaver recovery dog "Guese" take a minute to reflect inside St. Paul's Episcopal Chapel. (Photo: Sep 19, 2001 AP / Kathy Willens)
"Kinsay" of the Texas Task Force One has an injured paw treated—while dishing out her own dose of fuzz-therapy to weary crews. (Photo: Sep 20, 2001, Mike Rieger / FEMA)
Ohio Task Force One's Gary Flynn and his partner Tascha prepare for another shift. (Photo: Sep 18, 2001, Michael Rieger / FEMA)
"Worf" located the bodies of two missing firefighters on the first day. Overwhelmed, he lay down and curled up on the spot. The dog began shedding profusely, quit eating and refused to play with other dogs. His partner Mike Owens made the decision to retire the 12-year-old German Shepherd from search-and-rescue duty permanently. They are now back at home in Monroe, Ohio, where the entire town takes turns petting and playing with Worf. (Photo: (Michael Snyder / Cincinati Enquirer)
One-year-old "Porkchop" gets some kind reassurance from partner Erick Robertson of Oakhurst, California. SAR dogs—especially those trained to find living people—feel increased stress and depression as time passes with no survivors found. (Photo: Sep 19, 2001, AP / Suzanne Plunkett)
Shhhhh... (Photo: Sep 15, 2001, AP / U.S. Navy, P. Keres)
Just the sight of a dog is enough to lift the heaviest heart, whether the dog knows it or not. At the moment, this one's probably just dreaming about a hot blueberry muffin. (Photo: Sep 23, 2001, Andrea Booher / FEMA)
After an exhausting shift, "Jake" gets pampered with a massage from chiropractor Jan Price at a care center near the search site. Jake's partner Mary Flood (right) will have to take a number; dogs go first. (Photo: AP / Alan Diaz)
Let sleeping dogs lie (and dog-handlers, too); they certainly deserve it. (Photo: Sep 18, 2001, Reuters)
"Cowboy", a FEMA-certified Border Collie, is one of over 350 devoted dogs who lent their superhuman senses to the search and rescue operations. Although many dogs like Cowboy are not ready to call off the search, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and on-site veterinarians agree that SAR dogs are being exposed to hazards and respiratory conditions that are unwarranted, now that the "rescue" effort has been downgraded to "recovery". (Photo: Sep 21, 2001, AP / Alan Diaz)
Above: At a somber ceremony held to honor New York's 341 lost firefighters, members of the Washington Task Force One stand at attention in a moment of silence, and not a sound can be heard throughout the entire site. "Old Glory" waves in the background as "Old Yeller" sits in the fore. Perhaps it's time for "baseball and apple pie" to make room for different icons of staunch American patriotism. (Photo: Sep 26, 2001, Michael Rieger / FEMA)
Two Golden Retriever SAR dogs receive a Presidential "Good dog!" from George W. Bush. For all their noble efforts, their indispensable support and immediate readiness in this unexpected crisis, the dogs have certainly not gone unappreciated. But to them, that's all just part of the job of being a dog. (Photo: Michael Rieger / FEMA News)
Sirius, WTC Dog, Found in Rubble
NEW YORK CITY (USA) — Four months ago, Port Authority Police Officer David Lim was in the basement below the World Trade Center when the first explosion hit Tower One. Officer Lim put his 4-year-old Yellow Lab partner "Sirius" into his crate and raced upstairs to investigate.
His last words to Sirius were: "You stay there. I'll be back for you."
Neither David nor anyone in the world could have expected both towers to collapse on September 11, 2001, claiming thousands of human lives and one dog's. Sirius became the one canine casualty of the WTC terrorist attack.
That morning, Officer Lim raced up 43 flights of stairs to assist and direct the fleeing individuals when the evacuation began. He was helping to carry a woman down near the fourth or fifth floor when the tower collapsed and buried them. "It was like an avalanche," he describes. "We were just waiting there to die."
Officer Lim was himself rescued that afternoon just after 3pm. Nobody kept count on how many people he had been able to help escape, but unfortunately one individual very dear to him didn't make it out. David made several attempts to get back to the basement were Sirius was crated, but firefighters and officers at that point were trying to secure the scene and would not allow re-entry.
In addition, doctors would not allow Officer Lim to search at "the pile" because of the emotional toll it could have taken on him. But he kept tabs on the rescue effort, checking in periodically to ask whether they had made it to the kennel area. Finally last week, the call came: they had found Sirius. Investigators said that the dog had died instantly when the kennel collapsed.
On Thursday, under full honors, complete with a prayer and a salute, the body of Sirius was removed from the wreckage.
"There was a flag over his bag and I carried him out with another officer, John Martin," says Officer Lim. "Everyone saluted. All the machinery was stopped—the same thing that is done for human police officers and firefighters. I thought it was very nice."
Thanks for posting this, Alouette.
Salute the furry ones...tough as nails, hearts filled with love!
Quite a few SAR dogs developed respiratory problems. Those animals were treated and retired from active service. I did not find any stories about any dogs that had to be put down.
Lots of wonderful stories at this site:
Search & Rescue Dogs After 9-11
A human's senses could barely distinguish a chunk of concrete from a charred file cabinet, but a Labrador's nose knows exactly what to look for. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the best dogs for this type of work are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Labs and Border Collies. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, FEMA News / Jocelyn Augustino)
Gus and his partner await the OK to move in. Unlike the WTC rescuers in New York City, Pentagon rescue teams had the opportunity to first construct makeshift columns and structural braces to fortify the crumbling site. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, FEMA News / Jocelyn Augustino)
Gus raises a howl, signaling that he may have found something. Unfortunately, no survivors were recovered from the Pentagon disaster. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, FEMA News / Jocelyn Augustino)
Inside the Pentagon, the scene is one of widespread devastation and ruin. The daunting task of searching the entire area is distributed amongst four 60-member search-and-rescue teams with a total of about 15 certified rescue dogs. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, FEMA News / Jocelyn Augustino)
After a 12-hour shift, the rescuers rotate. Gus and his team take a well-deserved break. (Photo: Sep 14, 2001, FEMA News / Jocelyn Augustino)
Israeli K-9 trainers with guard dogs.
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My baby just after her first haircut by me:
Good job. But do I detect a hint of a "Oh, the indignity" look from the pooch?
"I am thinking my new pup might be an SAR or therapy dog candidate. She certainly has the brains couple with a very even keeled personality."
If Katie, the black lab, would ever get pregnant, we've decided to donate any left over pups to a local non-profit that trains donated pups to be companion dogs for the blind.
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