Honoring Bretagne, the Last Known 9/11 Search and Rescue Dog
Saying Farewell to a Brave Hero
By Mae Velasco, HeroFuel® Reporter
Fifteen years after September 11, we still continue to remember the lives that were lost and honor those who came to the rescue. While the attacks shook our nation, that day also symbolized a time where we came together to stand strong as one and rebuild. While we mourn for the families impacted and support those who are healing, we would also like to pay our respects to another brave soul who proves that not all heroes wear capes — sometimes, they wear vests. Heroes come in all shapes, and Bretagne came with four paws and a lolling tongue.
Sixteen-year-old golden retriever Bretagne (pronounced “Brittany”), the last known surviving 9/11 Ground Zero search and rescue dog, was laid to rest this past June.
Old age had taken its toll on Bretagne, and when it came time for her tearful sendoff, firefighters from the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department gave her a fitting farewell, saluting her as she and her owner, Denise Corliss, walked to the Fairfield Animal Hospital.
When 9/11 altered American history in 2001, Corliss and Bretagne were fresh-faced graduates of Disaster City, a training ground for first responders, when they were deployed to the World Trade Center. Bretagne was tireless, joining hundreds of other teams, working 12 hours a day for two weeks straight, winding through broken concrete, coils of steel and clouds of ash.
While searching for survivors, Bretagne found something else that was just as important: hope, inspired from the heart of others. Her search and rescue vest meant she was a rescue dog, but because of her lovable presence, she became an unofficial therapy dog, as well, her kindness giving peace to those who were standing in the midst of destruction. First responders began to turn to her for comfort, petting her, as they shared their stories with Corliss.
“Dogs can be so comforting, so it makes sense to me now,” Corliss told CNN. “I just didn’t anticipate that then.”
Bretagne was born to be a hero. Even as a puppy, Corliss can recall how despite sharing a plastic kennel with eight other puppies, this fearless golden retriever bulldozed her way to the front of the pack to say hello.
“That kind of pushy behavior helped her be the persistent don’t-give-up-style of working dog that I needed later,” Corliss said.
That perseverance carried her through her first rescue mission, but 9/11 wasn’t the only disaster Bretagne faced. She came to the rescue after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Ivan and other storms. Time and time again, this courageous pup put her safety at risk for others, even when she stood at the ledge of a dangling staircase.
“She walked to the edge of it and she stopped, turned, and she came back down. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, but it scared me a bit. …There were still times when I held my breath and said, ‘I hope she does this right. I hope she’s okay,” Corliss said to CNN.
Bretagne may have retired from service when she was 9 years old, but she still continued to put hope and a smile in the lives of others. Her persistence went from finding survivors to finding her favorite snacks.
“She cracks me up!” Corliss told TODAY. “Bretagne will follow me around with the bag in her mouth until I finally give in and open it. She’s done this since she was a pup, and…well, some things never change.
She was so well-loved, that BarkPost even arranged a Sweet 16 celebration for Bretagne, where she and Corliss were welcomed to tour New York City and enjoy adventures all around the Big Apple. Not only was she spotlighted in Times Square, she got to dig in face-first into a delicious cake.
On her final day, her team and family at the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department organized her honor guard. The firefighters continued to pay their respects and saluted Bretagne again, as her casket left the hospital, draped with an American flag.
Goodbye, Bretagne, and thank you for your amazing service.
