About 350 FEMA certified search and rescue dogs and their handlers came to Ground Zero as well as volunteer teams from all over North America and of course New York City's own K-9 police dogs.

The rubble provided unstable footing, was full of glass shards and hot, twisted metal. Dangerous fumes, loud noises, and the equivalent of landslides were constant sources of distraction and peril. Dogs were repeatedly seen limping out of the wreckage on bloody paws.

SAR (search and rescue) dogs expect to find survivors. "They don't like to find bodies. They'll find them, but they don't feel rewarded," veterinarian Douglas Wyler explained to the London Daily Telegraph. "The dogs are good, they're professionals, but like any professional they can suffer from melancholy and depression." The stress associated with not finding survivors was extreme for humans & dogs alike.

But the dogs persevered. Many dogs worked 12 hour shifts for 8 to 10 days.

Veterinarians spent a lot of time injecting fluids under the dogs’ skin since the biggest problem was dehydration from over-exertion. This allowed the fluids to slowly be absorbed into their system. Another stress related affliction was diarrhea. Secondary problems the dogs faced were minor cuts, scrapes and dust-related problems.

A rescue dog named Ranger received as a gift a small ziplock bag with two dog biscuits and two Hershey kisses inside, along with a note printed by a child that said,
'Lassie would be so proud of you.'

On September 11, Constable Jamie Symington of the Halifax Regional Police force and his retired police dog Trakr watched in horror at the televised coverage of the New York City World Trade Center attacks. Jamie called in sick to work, grabbed their gear, loaded Trakr into a station wagon and drove 15 hours from Prospect Bay, Nova Scotia to Manhattan with his friend Corporal Joe Hall.

Trakr had retired in May 2001. Coming out of retirement for one last tour of duty, the dog was faced with a nightmarish, sensory overload that few can imagine. On Thursday September 13th Trakr began to show interest in one particular area of the rubble. Having indicated the spot, Trakr, Symington and Hall deferred to emergency fire crews and moved on. It was several hours before the heroic team would learn that the fifth and final survivor had been pulled from the twisted mass where Trakr had sensed someone.

 

 

Jamie was suspended from his job for being truant.

 

 

Source http://www.dogsinthenews.com/issues/0110/articles/011002a.htm

(Photo: AP / Andrew Vaughan)

World Trade Center Rescue Dog Shot and Killed

Source USA Sunday, September 30, 2001

PLAINFIELD, NJ — An unfortunate case of mistaken identity has resulted in the death of one of New Jersey's finest rescuers. Git Ander, a seven-year-old German Shepherd who searched for survivors in the rubble of the World Trade Center was shot to death by two Plainfield police officers who mistook him for a vicious stray.

The incident began with several officers in pursuit of a car that had been reported stolen. Sergeant John Gillespie, the dog's handler, was among the first to arrive on the scene with Git Ander as suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot.

Sgt. Gillespie was able to apprehend the driver while his dog brought down a 12 year old girl by clamping onto her leg. About that time, Officers Ronald Fusco and Craig Montgomery arrived on the scene and—despite the police badge on Git Ander's collar—mistook the dog for a stray. They tried to forcibly pry the dog from the girl's leg, and reportedly Fusco was bitten in the process.

Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich said the police dog performed exactly as he had been trained in subduing the suspect. Sheriff Froehlich explains that Git Ander turned on Fusco for trying to separate the dog from the girl—a command that can only be given by his partner, Sgt. Gillespie.

The officers then shot Git Ander 11 times, wounding the animal fatally. Sgt. Gillespie arrived just as his dog was dying.

The Record reports that no charges have been filed in the shooting, but it is under investigation by Union County Prosecutor Thomas V. Manahan because it involved police use of deadly force.

Neither the girl nor the officers were seriously injured.

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself"

-Josh Billings

main dog page WTC dogs page 1   WTC dogs page 2 Sirius, a fallen K-9 Officer

This page is dedicated to all search & rescue dogs for the selfless acts that they perform.