Book pays tribute to search and rescue dogs from Sept. 11
Several years ago, a friend gave me the book titled “DOGNY — America’s Tribute to Search and Rescue Dogs” for Christmas.
The book is a collection of photos of the sculptures of life-size German shepherd dogs that were a public art exhibit and fundraiser.
The fundraiser was the creation of the American Kennel Club to express appreciation of and pay tribute to the dogs and their handlers who served in the rescue and relief efforts on Sept. 11, 2001.
The AKC established the AKC Companion Animal Recovery Corporation Canine Support and Relief Fund, a permanent charitable fund to provide resources to search and rescue organizations, veterinary units that support them and nonprofit shelters that care for animals displaced or orphaned by disaster.
The statues were painted by world famous artists and were on display in New York City and then sold at auction by Sotheby’s in Manhattan.
The AKC describes the DOGNY as more than a collection of these beautiful sculptures.
“It is a permanent tribute to the expressions of appreciation, gratitude, hope and love that have characterized the response to the events of 9/11 and the work of the search and rescue dogs.”
DogsintheNews.com, The Scoop, a division of Canine Nation, created a “WTC’s Heroic Rescue Dog” series, a compilation of powerful photographs and quotes and information of the heroic efforts of the search and rescue teams during the events of 9/11.
The series includes images and narratives of the dogs and their handlers in action during their rescue and security efforts in the ruins of the World Trade Center.
According to DogsintheNews.com., it was the largest deployment of search dogs in U.S. history, with more than 350 dogs participating in the search and rescue efforts at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Approximately 100 dogs were deployed by FEMA and the remaining SAR dogs were NY police dogs, security dogs and dogs from all across the United States, from Canada, as far as British Columbia, from Puerto Rico and one from Bordeaux, France.
They were big dogs, little, dogs, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, collies, golden retrievers, border collies and mutts who were “the backbone of the search-and-rescue operations at the World Trade Center wreckage.”
In addition to their rescue and security efforts, the dogs provided comfort. One special unit of dogs was brought to the site to provide emotional support to rescue workers.
I urge you to read the “WTC’s Heroic Rescue Dog” series on DogsintheNews.com. And remember.
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