Rescue dogs played big role during 9/11 aftermath
Wednesday is the anniversary of 9/11/2001. At 8:46 a.m. EDT, hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower at the World Trade Center in New York City.
At 8:03 a.m. EDT, hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower at the World Trade Center.
At 9:38 a.m. EDT, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 strikes the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. At 9:58 EDT, the South Tower collapsed.
At 10:03 a.m. EDT, hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashes into a field in Shanksville, Pa. At 10:28 a.m. EDT, the North Tower at the World Trade Center collapsed.
As reported by Nona Kilgore Bauer in her book, “Dog Heroes of September 11th, A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs,” 2,740 people perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center, including public safety workers and the passengers from flights 11 and 175. There were 189 people killed at the Pentagon and 44 people perished in the Pennsylvania crash.
Approximately 11,000 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded. More than 300 specialized canine search and rescue teams worked after 9/11, deploying to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Cadaver-dog teams responded to the call at the Fresh Fills landfill on Staten Island, the dumpsite where the debris from the World Trade Center was hauled, sorted and searched for human remains.
In her book, Bauer profiles the 9/11 canines through the stories of their handlers, as the dogs provided both closure to the families of the victims through their search and rescue work and comfort to rescue workers and the relatives of victims.
These magnificent dogs finally received national recognition for their work on 9/11 on the 10-year anniversary of the event. In honor of these dogs and their handlers, I would like to suggest you visit www.thedogfiles.com/2012/09/04/hero-dogs-of-911-legacy/ and view the video “Hero Dogs of 9/11: Legacy Dog Files Episode 16.”
“Hero Dogs of 9/11” was written, directed, edited and produced by Kenn Bell, who maintains the canine rescue website Dog Files. The video honors the search and rescue dogs, who answered the call to serve on 9/11.
Take the time to remember.
Ÿ The Buddy Foundation is a nonprofit (501c3), all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to the welfare of stray, abused and abandoned cats and dogs. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit thebuddyfoundation.org.