The last of the Ground Zero search dogs who helped to find survivors buried underneath rubble on September 11, 2001 has died.
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Bretagne earned national fame previous year when Bark Box, the New York-based dog treat delivery service, invited the golden retriever and Corliss to the big city for a canine-themed 16th birthday bash.
About two-dozen firefighters and members of the search-and-rescue dog community lined the sidewalk to the veterinarian’s office to honor and bid a tearful goodbye to the ailing dog as she walked by them for the last time.
Bretagne’s body was saluted again as her body left the hospital, draped with an American flag.
As a 2-year-old rescue pooch, Bretagne joined about 300 search dogs in the first wave of first responders at the disaster site on behalf of Texas Task Force 1. Corliss said she knew it was time when Bretagne had gone three straight days without a meal. Within a couple of years the duo was deemed good enough to be assigned to Texas Task Force 1.
“She was really anxious last night and she just wanted to be with me”, she told Today on Monday.
While she was in NY past year, she was treated to a suite at 1 Hotel Central Park and took a taxi ride through Times Square. An online biography posted by the organization says that Bretagne served as an ambassador for search and rescue dogs in retirement, often visiting elementary schools.
When barkpost.com heard about Bretagne’s upcoming Sweet 16, they flew her to New York City and gave her a proper thank you, along with an unforgettable birthday party.
Bretagne retired from active duty at 9.
On June 6, just a few months shy of her 17th birthday, Bretagne had to be put to sleep.
Bretagne, pronounced “Brittany”, became a full member of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department in 2000. She helped shyer children get over their fears about reading aloud to other people, said Corliss. “She also visited students with special needs, such as autism”.
“Then I looked down at Bretagne and she seemed stoked and ready to work”.
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A certified FEMA disaster search dog, Bretagne also lent her service to other disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
