16-year-old search and rescue dog Bretagne was euthanized on Monday. The beautiful Golden Retriever was the last known living dog to have been a part of the search and rescue team at Ground Zero after 9/11, NPR reports.
Bretagne’s owner Denise Corliss and her husband, Randy, decided that it was time to put the dog down when old age started to slow her down. She had a true “hero’s farewell,” as Bretagne was carried out of the Fairfield Animal Hospital draped in an American Flag while firefighters and rescue workers stood by saluting her. The Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department of Harris County, Texas put out a statement of goodbye, honoring Bretagne for her service.
Bretagne and Corliss were deployed to New York as members of Texas Task Force 1 after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Working with hundreds of other search and rescue teams, the two paired up to find Ground Zero Survivors. Throughout ten days of hard work, two-year-old Bretagne not only searched tirelessly but acted as a sort of therapy dog, helping firefighters and NYC residents around her cope with the tragedy.
According to CNN, Corliss and Bretagne went on to complete more search and rescue missions after her depolyment to Ground Zero, including Hurrican Katrina, Hurricane Rita and Hurrican Ivan. Corliss shared that Bretagne would push herself to her limits in order to fulfill her duties, sometimes making the rescuers she was working with a bit nervous. Denise told CNN one story of Bretagne walking herself to the edge of a dangling staircase after a storm in order to search for survivors. “She walked to the edge of it and she stopped – turned – and the came back down. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, but it scared me a bit,” Corliss explained.
In 2009, Bretagne retired from Texas Task Force 1, working as a local fire department search and rescue dog. She also served children, teaching them to read. Yes, a dog taught kids to read. Corliss brought Bretagne into classrooms so that students who felt uncomfortable reading out loud to their classmates could just read to the golden retriever instead. She would also make occasional visits to special needs students, helping them to relax during stressful days.
Corliss and Bretagne returned to New York City this past year as heroes for Bretagne’s 16th birthday. Central Park 1 Hotel even planned “Bretagne’s Best Day,” complete with a doggy birthday cake and a special suite in the hotel. They also donated $1,000 to the Cy-Fair Fire Department to fund training for more dogs like Bretagne.
Even though she’s a dog, Bretagne was a true American hero. RIP Bretagne, we won’t forget the brave work you have done for the country.