A Decade Later the Dedication of 9/11 Search and Rescue Dogs Remembered

An old Search and Rescue Dog called back to action taking a water break September 13, 2001. Phot Courtesy of Reuters / Beth Kaiser

Red is a 12 year old Search and Rescue dog a Labrador Retriever to be exact. Ten years ago this coming Sunday she was who searched the rubble of the Pentagon with her handler and owner. Within hours of American Airlines flight 77 crashing into the Pentagon on September 11, Red was hard at work searching for survivors. She was 18 months old and only recently certified as a Search and Rescue dog. Her handler was apprehensive about bringing her out on such a major event but Red showed just how devoted she is to the search. Working 12 hour days for weeks on end everything that was asked of her be it climbing on piles of rubble, going into opening too small for her handler, or climbing up ladders she did it every single time and she did it perfectly. During that time Red discovered dozens of bodies, her handler was sure that Red was something very special.

The experience of Search and Rescue Dogs after 9/11 demonstrated to authorities and trainers the importance of continuing to train top dogs in these hazardous environments. Red like the rest of the Search and Rescue Dogs dogs that worked the disaster areas gave so much of themselves. They woke up every day for weeks and spent 12 hours days sniffing through rubble as the country mourned. Of all the 300 dogs that worked Search and Rescue the hours days and weeks after 9/11/2001 only a handful are still alive  and like Red they are all retired. Most of the Search and Rescue Dogs were instrumental in helping to train the next crop of Search Teams who if the call comes will be ready to do their predecessors proud showing the dedication and drive necessary of working dogs teams.