Last Surviving 9/11 Search Dog Put To Sleep

Bretagne dog
Bretagne, the last 9/11 rescue dog, is saluted by 24 firefighters at the Cy-Fair Fire Department shortly before she was put down, Harris County, Texas, June 6. @mySA/Twitter

The last remaining rescue dog who helped to recover victims from the New York 9/11 terror attacks in 2001 died on Monday aged 16.

The golden retriever called Bretagne—pronounced Brittany—was put to sleep because of kidney failure at a veterinary clinic in Cypress, a large suburb in Houston, Texas.

In the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, nearly 100 rescue dogs were sent out over a period of 10 days to locate and save people trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center.

About 24 firefighters at the Cy-Fair Fire Department in Harris County, Texas, lined the path up to the Fairfield Animal Hospital, as Bretagne's owner and volunteer firefighter Denise Corliss took the noble dog on her final walk. The retriever was carried back out of the hospital wrapped in an American flag after the procedure had taken place.

"Some may say that the most a dog could be is a pet. However, to the over 400 members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero and is family," a spokesperson from the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department said, The Independent reported. "We will remember her fondly and continue serving the community with her as inspiration."

Honoring Bretagne

A 16-year-old golden retriever believed to be the last surviving search-and-rescue dog that helped scan the wreckage of the World Trade Center for victims was euthanized Monday at a Houston-area veterinarian's office.Read more: http://trib.al/sy2a7OH

Posted by Chron.com from the Houston Chronicle on Monday, June 6, 2016

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go