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As the U.S.A. prepares to commemorate the terrible events that unfolded on this day fourteen years ago, one dog who helped save terrified survivors at Ground Zero is celebrating her sixteenth birthday. Bretagne (pronounced “Brettany”) is the last known search-and-rescue dog who worked at Ground Zero in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks to still be alive today.
BarkPost – the NYC-based publishing arm of Bark & Co. – which runs an ongoing video series called Dog’s Best Day, aiming to give dogs the best day of their lives, decided that Bretagne’s sweet sixteenth deserved to be honored in style. And what better way to do that than by throwing the most epic canine party ever? The video above shows just how epic it was.
Bretagne now lives in Cypress, Tex., with her long-term handler and guardian, Denise Corless. Their deployment to Ground Zero on Sept. 11 2001 was their first assignment together, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
Corliss credits Bretagne with helping her to get through that terrible time.
The BarkPost team flew Bretagne, Corliss, and Corliss’ husband Randy into NYC for the occasion in late August. The celebrations kicked off with the display of an illuminated billboard in their honor.
Corliss was bowled over by the efforts that the BarkPost team had made, saying, “It was really surprising and very touching to see how many people were involved and excited about her coming back to New York. Of course, it’s not just about Bretagne. It’s about the love and Support that New York showed for those who responded to 9/11. She’s kind of a symbol of that. People we met on this trip were very emotional and nice to us. People were hugging her, and some were crying.”
True to Corliss’ words, New Yorkers gave Bretagne a hero’s welcome.
Bretagne – who was nominated for a Hero Dog Award with the American Humane Association in 2014 – enjoyed every minute of her party. Highlights of the day included: the unveiling of a plaque in her honor on the plaza of the 9/11 memorial; playtime in the Hudson River Park; a gourmet meal; and the presentation of a $1,000 donation from 1 Hotel Central Park to Texas Task Force 1, which trained both Corliss and Bretagne and deployed them to Ground Zero.
Here she is posing in front of the vintage NYC taxi provided to the family for the day by FilmCars.
Of course, she was also presented with her very own doggie cake!
Happy sweet sixteenth, Bretagne, and thank you for your service.
When the festivities were done, an emotional Corliss said, “I’m just so grateful for everything people did for us – and for Bretagne still being here with me. I know I’m on borrowed time in a sense because of her age, but I’m so grateful that she’s still here and we’re still having such a good time together.”
Bretagne’s incredible life story is featured in the book My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts written by Laura T. Coffey and containing photographs by Lori Fusaro.
All image source: Today.com