Honoring Heroic Search and Rescue Dogs of 9/11

09/09/2011

This weekend marks the 10-year anniversary of one of America's greatest tragedies. September 11, 2001 is an event that we will never forget and it is important to take time to remember and honor the men and women who lost their lives and heroically stepped in to help others. Alongside the many brave human heroes, we should also remember and honor the quietly heroic Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs  who, along with their handlers, risked their lives to help save victims of the World trade Center attacks.

If there was ever a time in history where dogs proved their distinction as Man's Best Friend, it was during this horrible and overwhelming tragedy. The 9/11 attacks brought about the largest deployment of SAR dogs in U.S. history. Over 350 trained SAR dogs and handlers came to the Twin Towers site and the Pentagon to search for survivors and to find bodies. The SAR dogs were mostly Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Collies, along with some Spaniels, Dachshunds, other pure breeds and plenty of talented mutts.

Amazing Dedication

The SAR dogs worked with their handlers up to 16 grueling hours a day, and it became evident that the dogs were nearly as distraught as the human rescuers when there were so few survivors to be found. For the human rescue workers, the lack of survivors made the attacks feel ever more horrific and tragic. For the dogs trained to find survivors, though, it felt like a personal failure. 

These amazing dogs, and their handlers - many of whom are voluneers - are brilliant creatures who have come to the aid of so many disaster victims over the years. Beyond the World Trade Center tragedy, SAR dogs have assisted in countless search and rescue efforts following hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and similar disasters. 

Yahoo News has featured an amazing collection of incredibly moving and inspirational photos of these Search and Rescue Dogs at work. I Head to the Yahoo News page to see the complete slideshow.

Animal Planet's series Saved commemorates the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with two compelling stories about New York City families who experienced the trauma firsthand and whose unique bonds with their pets helped them cope with their loss and recover from the pain of that terrible day. Learn more about Saved and tune in this Fall to be inspired.

Source: Petcentric; Photo source: REUTERS/HO/U.S. Navy Photo by Journalist 1st Class Preston Keres

Comments

[Wendy]

Why will this not be shown in this country, but in Canada tonight? An hour long special on these rescue dogs would be a perfect tribute.

[Temeca]

I agree...why isn't it being shown here in america, where it all happened :-( I am disappointed. Plus if you're not going to show it then why were you advertising it here on animal planet USA?

[Genghis]

I canceled my plans this evening to see this program. I've been looking for it on Animal Planet and couldn't find it. It w/h been nice to mention that it wasn't airing in the US when you advertised the program!!!!!!!

[Cheesypoofs]

I was so excited to see this program after reading about these heroic dogs all day, and then I find out that here - in the country where it all happened - we are not given access to this show?! Wtf, Animal Planet? That is an insult to us all. Wonder what show we'll be seeing in its place at that time, that is too important to reschedule??? Don't know because I'm not watching this channel until you show Hero Dogs of 9/11.

[Victoria Bush]

Why is Animal Planet Canada being more Patriotic towards the United States of America than Animal Planet USA? Shame of you for not airing "Hero Dogs of 9/11" here in America!! I hope that you will air it soon.

[katie]

I am really dissapointed in Animal Planet latly because I don't like gators boys or those stupid shows I feel like animal planet is just out of ideas for something good I would like to see more dog shows or different dog 101's and yea it's a shame to not show this on animal planet in america kind apointless dont you think?

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