Hero’s farewell for September 11 rescue dog
A GUARD of honour comprising September 11 first-responders formed to say goodbye to the last living dog to take part in the search and rescue operations.
Bretagne, a 16-year-old golden retriever, was put down at a vet clinic near Houston, Texas, due to old age.
A US flag was draped over its body as it was carried out of the facility.
Bretagne was two years old when the dog and its handler, Denise Corliss, were part of the task force sent to the World Trade Center after the terrorist attack brought down the towers on Sept 11 2001, claiming 2,996 lives.
They spent 10 days at the scene searching rubble for human remains.
Bretagne retired from active duty seven years later.
At 15, the dog was taken to the 9/11 memorial and featured in an “interview” with NBC News.
Bretagne was nominated for a Hero Dog Award from the American Humane Association in 2014.