Bretagne (August 25, 1999–June 6, 2016)[1] (pronounced Brittany)[2] was a Golden Retriever rescue dog who searched for survivors at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks.[3] It was the first assignment for her and her owner and trainer, Denise Corliss,[4] and they worked there for 10 days.[5] Corliss, a volunteer firefighter with the Cy-Fair Fire Department, began training Bretagne for search and rescue work at just eight weeks old.[6]
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | Golden Retriever |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | August 25, 1999 |
| Died | June 6, 2016 (aged 16) Cypress, Texas |
She appeared on the Today Show along with NBC News’ Tom Brokaw.[4] She later participated in rescue efforts after Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Ivan.[7] She was retired at the age of 9. After her retirement, she continued her community service as a reading dog at a local elementary school. First grade students who were shy about reading aloud were more willing when Bretagne was there lending a friendly listening ear.[8]
She is believed to have been the last surviving dog from the 9/11 attacks when she was euthanized in Texas in 2016; she was 16 years old and suffering from kidney failure.[1][9] As Bretagne entered the animal hospital in Cypress, Texas, firefighters and search and rescue workers from the fire department lined the sidewalk and saluted. When she was carried out later by the search and rescue workers, in a casket draped in a Texas flag, the line of firefighters resumed their salute wearing black bands across their badges.[10]
See also
edit- Jake (rescue dog), another 9/11 search dog
- List of individual dogs
References
edit- ^ a b "Mourning Bretagne, a Search Dog and Symbol of 9/11 Heroism". The New York Times. 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Never forget: Last 9/11 Ground Zero search dog dies at age 16". 6 June 2016.
- ^ Meg Wagner (11 September 2014). "Last living 9/11 Ground Zero search dog returns to World Trade Center site". New York Daily News.
- ^ a b Laura T. Coffey (12 September 2014). "9/11 Ground Zero search dog still lends a helping paw". Today.
- ^ Brandy Arnold (2019-09-11). "Remembering the Hero Dogs of 9/11". The Dogington Post. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ Brandy Arnold (2019-09-11). "Remembering the Hero Dogs of 9/11". The Dogington Post. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ Brandy Arnold (2019-09-11). "Remembering the Hero Dogs of 9/11". The Dogington Post. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ Laura T. Coffey (6 June 2016). "Never forget: Last 9/11 Ground Zero search dog dies at age 16". Today.
- ^ Ahmed, Saeed; Patterson, Thom (7 June 2016). "9/11 search and rescue dog laid to rest". CNN.
- ^ Kragie, Andrew (June 6, 2016). "Firefighters bid farewell to last known 9/11 search dog". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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