A TRIBUTE TO THE DOGS OF 9/11 Ron’s journey to meet the hero dogs “While watching the events unfold I saw the story of Sirius, the explosive-detection dog that died in Tower II. I had an overwhelming urge to reach out to David Lim, Sirius’ handler, and do something to try and ease his pain. David was kind enough to share pictures and stories of Sirius with me. His grief over the loss of his friend and partner was heartbreaking….
As I began to better understand the role Sirius played at The World Trade Center, I wanted to know more about the dogs that were committing their lives to serving the public.
I went to NYC to meet with a group of pet therapy dogs and their handlers who had spent a considerable amount of time at Ground Zero. I took photos and got to know the dogs, the handlers and listened to their remarkable stories. They had all worked tirelessly giving comfort to families, firefighters, rescue workers and support groups.
SIRIUS
Explosive Detection NYC Port Authority
I then went to Virginia to meet with a group of search and rescue dogs and their handlers. It was there that I met Sky, the first dog to enter the Pentagon, as well as Nero and other dogs who courageously looked for survivors in the rubble. These experiences deepened my appreciation of the human-animal bond. Through their devotion and unconditional love these dogs touch the hearts and lives of people every day. “I hope I’ve done them justice.” — Ron Burns
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www.homelandmagazine.com
Ron Burns and Rufus My Inspiration
Rufus has been the creative spirit behind many special projects. He inspired Ron to create a book that you can read to your dogs (or humans) based on classic nursery rhymes, and he is the focus of a unique art collection that combines both original painting with a limited edition series. www.ronburns.com
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SIRIUS
Explosive Detection NYC Port Authority
By cci.org
Ground Zero On January 25, 2002 workers at Ground Zero recovered the remains of Sirius, the explosive detection dog, who’s believed to be the only canine to die in the attack on the World Trade Center.
By cci.org
So once again I sent Hansen out and in about 2 minutes and about 3 feet away he started digging like crazy. We all looked at each other and said “no way”. In a few hours we found a machine gun which was Sgt. Curtin’s. His complete body was recovered. Even being able to read his name on his uniform. Sgt. Curtin had been a marine before becoming a police officer. He had helped dig out a marine that was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing. This was a proud day for me and Hansen to bring home 2 of our own. Hansen, a Belgian Shepherd Dog, worked on site for approximately 150 days. He was honored with numerous awards for his service including a memorial statue at a local park in Lindenhurst, New York.
On September 11th 2001, Sirius, an explosive detection dog working in Tower II of the World Trade Center, gave his life for his country. His responsibilities, along with his handler David Lim, included inspecting vehicles for explosives that entered the WTC. On September 11, 2001, Sirius and David were in their office in Tower II when they felt the first plane slam into Tower I.
- Steve Smaldon NYPD
Lim left Sirius in the office promising to return. But while assisting in rescue operations Lim became trapped in a stairwell, along with a grandmother and firefighters from Ladder Company 6, for several hours when Tower I collapsed. Once freed he attempted to return to Tower II which was now rubble and inaccessible. When Sirius’ remains were removed from the World Trade Center wreckage, they were given the same honors accorded firefighters and other rescuers, who lost their lives there too.
The Dogs of 9/11
By cci.org
Although she searched Ground Zero for ten days, she did not find any survivors. However, while waiting for her next assignment, she demonstrated an untrained skill for supporting the first responders on scene. Even in the midst of the chaos, the activity and the overwhelming sadness and stunning loss, she knew which firefighter needed her comfort, and she went to that person. And today, at 14 years of age, a senior dog with silver highlights on her fur and retired from active search work, Bretagne brings that same “emotional intelligence” to her new job. Once a week, she spends several hours at an elementary school, where she is known as the “reading dog.” First grade students greet her as she visits classrooms, where she “listens” attentively to them read to her. Sometimes she puts a paw on a student’s hand, or curls up close to one of them. She also visits a classroom for students with emotional and behavioral challenges, such as autism.
BRETAGNE
Search and Rescue - Texas Task Force 1 Bretagne’s career as a search dog began at the age of two, as a member of Texas Task Force 1, responding to the attacks on 9/11. 14
HOMELAND / September 2017
HANSEN
EVEREST
Search and Rescue - NYPD
It was 6 months after the attacks that K9 Hansen and I reported to Ground Zero for a 6 am to 6 pm tour. We were requested to respond for a search. So after driving the gator, with Hansen, to the search area, we climbed down 100 feet into a hole where Hansen located several victim remains. I rewarded him with “good boy, good job”, letting him know he had done his job and we were done. Hansen ran up the hill ahead of me to get back into the gator. I noticed him jump out and start to dig on the side of the road. By the time I got to him he had already dug a hole almost 1 foot down. Never in the six months there had I seen him act this way. Another emergency service officer came to see what we were doing. I said Hansen is going crazy so we all started digging. We went about 2 feet down and I was ready to call it off when we uncovered a G shock watch. The next shovel uncovered the arm that it was on. Any body part this big was very rare so we called for more officers to help. After a slow hand dig we realized it was a complete body. Then one of the officers found a gun. We reported the gun and they said we had recovered Officer Perry.
Not only does she provide a calming influence on the children, but she is quick to lean into a staff member who is having a rough day. That is Bretagne today, continuing a tradition of service that started many years ago.
Officer Perry was retiring on Sept. 11 and was at headquarters. He ran to the Trade Center after the first plane hit. This was a great recovery for the police department. Everyone talked about how Hansen had found Officer Perry. Then the Chief said they had good info that Sgt. Curtin was with Officer Perry.
- Denise Corliss
Hansen and I had worked many jobs with Sgt. Curtin.
Search and Rescue - FEMA
Reeny and Everest had just finished their night shift on the pile in NYC when, as they were stepping out of the rubble field, Everest stopped short and seemed to be sniffing and focused very heavily on a piece of paper on the ground. Reeny went over and picked it up and it was a business card. Everest seemed very intent on smelling the card. Reeny didn’t think anything of it but had it in her pocket when she came home to Arizona from the deployment. We got to talking about that event as kind of a debrief to the whole deployment and we decided to look up the name on the card and found that his memorial was planned and there was an address for his wife. Reeny wrote a letter to her stating that Everest had focused on this card and that Reeny felt it was important for her to know that while she and Everest were not able to find anyone alive that finding this card brought home why she went which was to find a remembrance at least of her husband. His wife wrote back thanking her and said that this was really the only thing tangible from the site (at that time) that she had that represented her loved one. So in the end, Reeny and Everest’s mission was to find the card and get it back to his wife to help her heal. Everest was a most special dog, Reeny loved her like her child. They were a special team. - Tom and Reeny Shannon
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