I was living in New York City during 9/11. I watched the first tower fall as I waited to use the public phone to let my family know I was okay. My memories of that day is one of sirens, flashing lights, incredibly kind New Yorkers (quite a miracle in itself) and a caustic, burnt smell in the air. I will never forget that day.
In remembrance, I’ll just be posting 9/11 material today. God bless America.
— Kenn Bell
NEW YORK CITY — Not enough can be said about the heroic individuals, both bipeds and quadrupeds, who lended their abilities to the security and rescue efforts in the wake of 9/11. With that said, here are a few pictures worth a few thousand words:
“If these dogs only knew what a difference they make. Certainly, there’s nothing that can replace the precision of a dog’s nose—and absolutely nothing that can replace a dog’s heart.” — Bob Sessions, rescue worker, Federal Emergency Management Agency
“They go underneath into void spaces—anywhere we can get the dogs in. The site is very difficult agility for the dogs. They’re crawling on their bellies and squeezing through things. It’s incredible to watch.” — Sharon Gattas, Riverside Urban Search and Rescue
“You can train all you want, but this is the mother lode. The dogs can feel it.” —  Joe Caputo, NYC Police K-9 Unit
“They will search endlessly for that scent until they are called off.” — Lori Mohr, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
“They may not cry to their fellow firemen or police, but somehow they open up to the dogs.” — Laura LoPresti, dog caretaker from Monroe Township, Missouri
“All they really want to do is work hard and love you. How can that not raise the human spirit in us all?” — Gerald Lauber, Suffolk County SPCA
“Some couldn’t take it anymore. Rescuers asked to play fetch with Thunder. But then they’d sneak off in a corner to just be with Thunder, or maybe to talk with him.” — Bob Sessions, rescue worker, Federal Emergency Management Agency
“Just petting a dog provides comfort to those who need it—and where I am now, so many need it.” — Laura LoPresti, dog caretaker from Monroe Township, Missouri
The therapeutic value of dogs at the World Trade Center site has been widely recognized. CNN correspondent Kitty Pilgrim reports, “Not all dogs are soldiering through piles of rubble. One special unit was brought in to provide emotional support to rescue workers. They reach out to these dogs because it’s OK to.”
An unidentified rescue worker adds, “These dogs have been trained to pick up on trauma and goes towards it. So they pursue people they perceive as being in a state of trauma … We’ve been visiting a lot of firemen, police, and cleanup detail.”
And compassion is a two-way street. Exhausted, stressed and war-weary dogs receive the best care, both physical and mental, that humans can give.
“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.
“A Golden Retriever was carrying his handler’s helmet around the site in his mouth, bringing smiles to the grim faces he passed.” — Mac Daniel, The Boston Globe
It has become a common morale-booster for rescuers to stage mock “finds”, so that the dogs can feel successful.
“Morale is important… So it’s my job as handler to remove her from the pile … and then what we do is we set up a scenario for her that she can win at. We used a New York firefighter. He actually hid amongst a little bit of rubble … and we sent her on a search. She finds the firefighter. He plays with her real good. She’s real happy, and she’s ready to go to work again.” — Mark Bogush, Tampa Fire Rescue, speaking about his partner “Marley”
“The dog seeks a live person in hopes the survivor will play with him. He’s not finding a live person, so there is no one to play with him. So when I get home at night, I send my 12-year-old son to hide in the woods. Then Jax finds him and they play tug of war with a towel.” — Tom Fahy, Passaic County Sheriff’s Dept., speaking about his partner “Jax”
Their sense of smell has been estimated to be at least one million times more refined than ours; they have as many as 220,000,000 “sniffer” cells, compared to a human’s mere 5,000,000; they can detect sound vibrations at 250 yards that most humans can barely hear at 25; and most importantly, these marvelous workers are dedicated, determined and motivated beyond the limits of exhaustion like no human or machine could ever be.
But when they’re asleep, they’re still just adorable, fuzzy dogs, aren’t they? We’re reminded that these indefatigable multi-sensory trackers are just big puppies underneath it all—like the saying goes: “Cold nose, warm heart.”
So let’s now take a moment to admire the “World Trade Center’s Sleepy Rescue Dogs” on a few of the rare occasions that we can catch them at rest, deeply engrossed in doggie-dreams.
“He’s used to working. He just worked a little too hard this time.” — Michael Norkelun of the Suffolk County SPCA, speaking about SAR dog “Ammo” snoozing nearby
Awake or asleep, these dogs are constantly at work, mending wounded spirits and providing an undying source of morale. There’s not a single veteran of “the pile” who will deny that dogs are providing just as much emotional support as technical guidance.
“He was a great, big guy, and he was just bawling. He was crying like a baby. He couldn’t talk, but he mouthed the words: ‘Thank you. Thank you—and thank the dog.’ ” — Louis Wardoup, volunteer, describing how his partner Insee unearthed the hand of a firefighter in front of his FDNY comrades.
After the “search” effort was been downgraded to “recovery”, all of the 350 “live-find” dogs went home, and the overwhelming sense of loss at the WTC had never been so heavily punctuated.
But no effort as dedicated as the month-long canine SAR campaign can be hailed as anything less than triumphant and resoundingly successful. The mettle shown by these dogs and their human halves has affected the world in a way that should not be underestimated. Big mutts, little mutts, German Shepherds, Golden Labs, Black Labs, Yellow Labs, Collies, Rotties, Spaniels—and even a few reports of feisty little Dachshunds—have all reaffirmed the humble honor associated with the old WWII term “dogface”.
“We were very close; no matter where I went, he went. Whatever I asked him to do, he did. He never complained. Sometimes we’d be working for long hours, searching hundreds of cars or trucks, and he’d just look at me like, ‘What do you want me to do now?’ ” — Officer David Lim, Port Authority Police Dept., speaking about K-9 “Sirius”
Never Forget.
k9/11 hearts…by karen lyons kalmenson
They stand by their person
Tall and proud
Waiting for each command
By hand signal or aloud
Their paws are so tired
They are cut until raw
But they keep on going
Keep looking for more
Into the rubble into the fray
Not fearing trouble
Will someone be saved today.
Eyes tearing from smoke
They plow straight ahead
As they cough and they choke
Perhaps wishing for bed
Tirelessly devoted doing their best
At the end of the long day
Head on their person’s chest
Knowing tomorrow
Will be more of this sorrow
Iam proud of our haerd working dog heroes god bless america
Iam proud of our haerd working dog heroes god bless america
i will always will keep all thoses inocent kids and people that life where taking away on 9/11 god bless there soul and they family
Dogs are some of the best people I know.
where was the protective garment 4 each rescue dog? I wonder if some of them suffered severe consequences from their heroic acts. I am touched by the selflessness of all the rescuers both human and canine.
Thank you.
You're welcome, Sheila!
Leah, some studies were done and scientists determined that the dogs were unharmed. Also, thanks so much for your donation! You rock!
It's now Sept. 15th and these pictures are still touching my heart. Thank you for reminding us of all the K9 heroes that worked beside the human ones. I've heard that there were many cut/burned paws from the search and rescue process, and I salute the dogs and handlers who stuck around regardless.
Just thinking about the horrible thing, all the people and now reading and seeing the pictures of these fantastic dogs will make a grown man cry. How could anybody NOT love and need a good dog. My dog Cracker [I'm a Cracker] will melt your heart. God bless all the rescue dogs and all good dogs They have and always will be a valuable and necessary companion and helper for all of us humans..
Just thinking about the horrible thing, all the people and now reading and seeing the pictures of these fantastic dogs will make a grown man cry. How could anybody NOT love and need a good dog. My dog Cracker [I'm a Cracker] will melt your heart. God bless all the rescue dogs and all good dogs They have and always will be a valuable and necessary companion and helper for all of us humans..
May the good Lord bless them all!! America as well,Their undying love and devotion to duty is above and beyond anything that mortal man can give!!! Treasure them always,treasure their memories, and Never Forget!!Canada weeps for them too!!
I haven’t cried about the attacks since that day—until reading this article. I just hugged my dog and wept…
This is the great blog, I’m reading them for a while,
thanks for the new posts!
Excellent!
Great article, I already saved it to my favourite,
i just found your site today,, and i cried while reading it. I am an animal lover, i have 3 dogs and 4 cats. My smallest ,,Cloee,, is my angel,, she goes where i go,,, she sleeps wiith me,, i cannot fathom,,losing my pets to something like this!!! This is horrible!! My heart goes out to Mr.Lim,,,, and those who lost their canine furbabies on that day!
It really, REALLY grinds my gears that Sirius was not memorialized on the national 9/11 memorial at the twin tower footprints. He DIED there and he was a HERO.
Sirius and Lim were in the south tower basement when the first attack happened. Lim left sirius behind to see what was up. Lim then was out helping people when the second tower was hit. He was still helping people, however sadly, the south tower collapsed and the collapse crushed the basement and buried sirius alive, to which he died of lack of air. A month or so later the basement was able to be accessed once the debries from the twin towers were moved over, and sirius body was found intact in the kennel.
He should of been memorialized. He is just as important as the people who died on 9/11.