Apollo — The First K-9 at Ground Zero German Shepherd • NYPD • Handler: Officer Peter Davis
Apollo and Officer Davis were the first police K-9 search team to respond at Ground Zero. Apollo plunged into the wreckage despite burning debris, jagged concrete and intense heat.
At one point he fell into a hole and a fireball erupted. Apollo emerged with burning embers on his coat. Davis brushed them away—and Apollo immediately went back to searching. His paws became cracked and bruised, and his coat was singed, but he continued until Davis finally had to pull him away.
Roselle — 78 Floors to Safety - Yellow Labrador • Guide Dog • Michael Hingson
Roselle wasn’t a rescue dog. She was something equally remarkable.
Her blind owner, Michael Hingson, was working on the 78th floor of the North Tower when the attack occurred. Amid smoke, heat, noise and thousands of terrified people, Roselle remained calm and guided Hingson down the stairwell.
They descended roughly 1,400 stairs before reaching safety. Even after escaping the building and encountering the chaos outside, Roselle continued guiding Michael away from danger.
Salty — He Wouldn’t Abandon His Partner Labrador Retriever • Guide Dog • Omar Rivera
Salty was another guide dog inside the World Trade Center.
His blind owner, Omar Rivera, was working on the 71st floor when the evacuation began. Rivera reportedly tried to release Salty so the dog could save himself.
Salty wouldn’t leave.
Instead, he remained with Rivera and helped guide him through the enormous evacuation down the tower. Salty and Roselle later shared international recognition for their devotion during the attacks.
The message: His owner gave him permission to leave. Salty chose to stay.
Bretagne — The Last Survivor of the Search Dogs
Golden Retriever • FEMA Texas Task Force 1 • Handler: Denise Corliss
Bretagne was just two years old when she and Denise Corliss deployed to Ground Zero. It was their first major disaster assignment.
Bretagne searched the wreckage alongside hundreds of other responders. She later worked other disasters, including Hurricane Katrina.
She eventually became particularly symbolic of the canine response because she lived until age 16 and was believed to be the last known surviving search dog that worked at Ground Zero.
When Bretagne was put to sleep in 2016, firefighters and rescuers formed a line and gave her a final salute.
The message: A final salute for a dog who answered America’s call.
Sage — From the Pentagon to Iraq - Border Collie • Handler: Diane Whetsel
Two-year-old Sage’s first major assignment was the Pentagon following the September 11 attack.
It became only the beginning of an extraordinary career.
Sage later worked during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and deployed to Iraq in 2007 to search for missing American soldiers. She ultimately achieved FEMA’s highest search-dog certification and received an AKC Award for Canine Excellence.
The message: September 11 was the beginning of a lifetime of service.
Sunny — “We Got Our Brother”
Doberman Pinscher • California Task Force 3 • Handler: Shirley Hammond
Sunny was trained to find living people, not human remains. Yet while searching Ground Zero, Sunny repeatedly returned to one particular location. His handler initially thought he was picking up the scent of rescuers who had recently worked there. Sunny wouldn’t give up.
He returned again, pawed at the ground and looked at Hammond. She told firefighters they needed to investigate. Later, a firefighter found Hammond and told her: “Sunny was right. We got our brother.”
The message: The dog knew something the humans didn’t.
Nikie — Healing Hearts at Ground Zero
Golden Retriever • Therapy Dog • Handler: Frank Shane
Not every canine hero searched rubble. Nikie’s mission was the human beings who were doing the searching. Wearing protective booties, a work vest and a bandana, Nikie moved through Ground Zero and respite centers, offering firefighters, police officers, and recovery workers a few moments of normal human affection amid almost unimaginable destruction.
Nikie and Frank Shane continued working there through the recovery period and participated in the Last Column ceremony marking the end of operations at Ground Zero.
The message: Some wounds couldn’t be treated with bandages.
