The modern timeline is split into two: the world before the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and the one after. Thousands of people risked their lives to rescue victims in the aftermath. But some of the heroes of that day remain forgotten nearly two decades on.
Search and rescue dogs are some of the unsung heroes of 9/11, most of them now forgotten. However, these adorable yet determined animals were indispensable to the rescue efforts and saved countless lives. What’s more, they brought back a sliver of hope to a nation under attack and reeling from the horror. One Twitter user gave canines the attention they deserve in an incredibly profound and viral thread that once and for all proves that dogs really are our best friends.
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A moving Twitter thread gave 9/11 search and rescue dogs the attention they deserve
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Twitter user ClaysandBirds explained how more than 300 search and rescue (or SAR) dogs were deployed to Ground Zero, but only a third of them were equipped to deal with large-scale urban rescue missions. ClaysandBirds drew attention to the most famous SAR dogs of 9/11, including Bretagne who also rescued people after hurricanes Katrina and Ivan, and the legendary Appollo who was the first canine to arrive on the scene of the terror attacks in New York.
Bored Panda reached out to ClaysandBirds to hear more of their thoughts about 9/11 and the heroic search and rescue dogs.
When asked whether or not people are forgetting about the heroes of 9/11, the Twitter user said that, in their opinion, the answer is no. However, ClaysandBirds added: “I think when time passes it becomes less relevant in our day-to-day life. The images of the towers falling have been shown millions of times and the shock of it has slowly worn off.”
Without the help of canines, there would have been more victims
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
“There are some stories from 9/11 that hit you so hard it stays with you. The Boatlift of 9/11, Welles Crowther and the red bandana, Flight 93, and so on. You hear these personal stories and it adds a very human element to 9/11.”
“Last year a writer from Barstool Sports named Large wrote an exceptional blog about being in the financial district and his wife losing part of her family. The part of his story which grabbed me the most was talking about the process of recovering the remains,” said ClaysandBirds. “We all think about the towers falling. It’s played on repeat on 9/11, but to hear about calling hospitals and tracking down leads hoping to get answers is just a gut punch. That story was on my mind and it reminded me of the SAR efforts from ground zero and the dogs who were put to the ultimate test.”
The Twitter user mentioned that they found the “Boatlift of 9/11” to be the most emotional story: “Seeing so many people come together to help one another really shows how we care for one another. No one was asking who did you vote for? What religion do you practice? What race are you? People just helped people.”
The dogs worked themselves to the bone
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
ClaysandBirds revealed that they were “sitting in a classroom in Baltimore” when the towers fell in New York. “Most of my family worked in the financial district in NYC. A lot of my classmates had parents who worked in DC. A decent number of us were sitting there wondering if aunts, uncles, cousins, or parents were there. Easily one of the worst days of my life.”
“It was definitely a turning point,” they said about 9/11 and whether it was the dividing point between two different eras. “That being said, I think we just weren’t exposed to what was going on behind the curtain. After 9/11 the curtain was pulled back and we realized the US wasn’t invincible to foreign attacks. We mostly only knew of domestic terror like the Oklahoma City Bombing.”
Around 300 search and rescue dogs did their duty at Ground Zero
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
“There are a lot of great search and rescue organizations that depend on donations. People can easily look up their local K9 search and rescue organization and find ways to help. They need volunteers and they need financial contributions,” ClaysandBirds encouraged people to support SAR dogs.
ClaysandBirds’ thread left a massive impact on the internet community. The thread got a third of a million likes and was retweeted more than 136,700 times, which shows that people appreciate the sacrifice SAR dogs made. The 9/11 attacks in New York killed nearly 3,000 people, and the casualties would have been much higher if not for these selfless canines whose single purpose in life was to rescue people.
Some doggos restored people’s hope
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
18 years after 9/11, some heroes of that day are forgotten, but there are those who remind us of them
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Image credits: ClaysandBirds
Some of these heroic dogs were awarded The Dickin Medal which, according to BBC Radio 4, is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. One of the dogs who received the medal was the aforementioned New York Police Department dog Appollo; the award was meant to recognize the dutiful efforts made by all SAR dogs during 9/11.
Two guide dogs were also awarded the medal for leading their owners more than 70 floors out of the World Trade Center immediately after the attacks in New York. Since 1943, over 60 animals have been awarded The Dickin Medal, including pigeons, horses and a cat (not just dogs). They were recognized for their services which led to people’s lives being saved during wartime.
People were deeply touched by the tribute to 9/11 search and rescue dogs
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