National Service Dog Month & Stories of Service Dogs

Today as this blog post is published, it’s September 11th. As we remember those whose lives were lost, the families and loved ones left behind, the first responders and service workers, let’s also not forget that service dogs played a huge part in trying to save lives on that day and in the aftermath.

It’s also National Service Dog month and September is dedicated to raising awareness and showing appreciation for the work of service dogs. Service dogs can either be trained companion animals for people in need or can work in search and rescue, for the military, police/ fire department. Whenever I hear stories of service animals particularly service dogs, I’m always amazed at the human animal bond that takes place and how loving, giving and helpful dogs are to us. A lot of service dogs are shelter dogs first that end up getting rescued and then, trained which I think is just beyond incredible. Not only did that dog’s life get saved, but then, through their service, they end up likely saving a human life.

I wanted to write this post in appreciation of these stories that have touched my heart. Here are just a few though of course, there are so many more.

1. Roselle and Michael Hingson

Blind Owner Michael Hingson and Guide Dog Roselle

Sales director, Michael Hingson, blind since birth, arrived for work at the World Trade Center’s Tower One with his guide dog, Roselle. At 8:45 a.m. a hijacked jetliner crashed into the tower, 18 floors above Hingson. To escape, Roselle led Hngson down 78 floors. In all the articles and stories I’ve seen, Hingson says that Roselle was calm and collected the whole way. Through smoke, debris, and fleeing office workers, they made it safely outside. However, by the time they reached the sidewalk, Tower Two had been struck and was collapsing. Roselle led Hingson to shelter down a subway entrance and as they came out of the subway, Tower One had fallen with debris and ashes everywhere. Roselle STILL remained calm and led Hingson 40 blocks to a friend’s apartment and safety.

Hearing this story makes me tear up at the bravery and selflessness that Roselle showed during this devastating and scary event. Hingson actually wrote a book of his life with Roselle and the events of 9/11. It’s called Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust. “Thunder Dog is a story that will forever change your spirit and your perspective. It illuminates Hingson’s lifelong determination to achieve parity in a sighted world and how the rare trust between a man and his guide dog can inspire an unshakable faith in each one of us.” So, if you want to read more about his story and Roselle definitely grab a copy.

Dear Roselle passed away in 2011, but her heroic and kind spirit lives on. Hingson wrote a beautiful tribute to her when she passed on his website and created the Roselle Dream Foundation in her honor. Remembering her today.

2. Jake: Abandoned Puppy to Search and Rescue Dog

As I mentioned, lots of therapy and service dogs are rescues and Jake is a famous one. Mary Flood, a member of the Utah Task Force 1, a search and rescue team trained to respond to disasters adopted Jake as a 10-month-old puppy. He had been abandoned on a street with a broken leg and a dislocated hip. After getting him healthy and giving him a home, Mary trained Jake for search and rescue. Jake was a natural and was a Rocky Mountain Rescue Dog from 1997-2006 with certifications in Avalanche, Tracking, Wilderness, and Water Rescues. Jake most notably served with the Utah Task Force One team in New York's Ground Zero for 17 days and in rescue efforts during Hurricane Katrina. Jake also helped mentor other search and rescue dogs and promoted public awareness of the importance of search and rescue dogs through public demonstrations.

Just goes to show how rescue dogs should not be judged as damaged or unable to be regular dogs. They can actually be more than regular. They can be extraordinary. Though he has crossed over the rainbow bridge, Jake will be remembered always for his tireless work to save human life.

3. Bretagne: Ground Zero Search and Rescue Dog

Bretagne pronounced Brittany was a Golden Retriever rescue dog who searched for survivors at Ground Zero in the aftermath of September 11th. This was actually her first assignment with her owner, Denise Corliss. They worked there for 10 days. Corliss, a volunteer firefighter with the Cy-Fair Fire Department trained Bretagne since she was a puppy. Even after 9/11, they participated in rescue efforts during natural disasters including Hurricane Katrina. After Bretagne retired her search and rescue work, she continued her community service as a reading dog at a local elementary school. She is believed to have been the last surviving dog from the 9/11 attacks (she passed away June 6, 2016 at 16.5 years old) and a statue was created to honor her faithful service.

Bretagne is the type of dog that completely proves how resilient and kind service animals can be. The fact that she went from being a search and rescue dog to ending her life as a therapy dog means this was truly her calling. Especially remembering her incredible spirit today.

4. Riley 9/11 Search and Rescue Dog

Riley was another Golden Retriever that assisted in the 9/11 search and rescue efforts and was trained to find live people. Sniffer dogs which is what Riley was are highly valuable in search and rescue as a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human. This enables dogs to use scent-tracking to find living survivors, as well as those who have died during catastrophes.

Riley was a member of the U.S. Pennsylvania Task Force 1 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team during the Ground Zero World Trade Center search and recovery effort after the region was left still partially burning after 9/11. This picture is of Riley traveling 60-feet above the rubble of the North Tower to search for survivors. He had to go across alone because it was considered too risky and dangerous for his human search partner to accompany him. Can you imagine what he must have been thinking? How brave he was to do this all in the name of service? He did his job and helped recover several bodies of firefighters though he really worked hard to find the living.

In this article, his search and rescue partner explained, “Riley knew the people he continued to find were dead. He was never a formally trained cadaver dog. His job was to find the still living. I tried my best to tell Riley he was doing his job. He had no way to know that when firefighters and police officers came over to hug him, and for a split second you can see them crack a smile – that Riley was succeeding at doing an all together different job. He provided comfort. Or maybe he did know.”

Riley passed away in 2010, but we are remembering his true acts of bravery, courage and his ability to be such a comfort during a devastating time.

5. Rescue and Jessica - A Life Changing Friendship

I wrote about Rescue and Jessica in another blog post since they have a children’s book about their story that we read all the time in our family. Jessica Kensky is a Boston Marathon Bombing survivor. After having lost the use of her legs, she needed a service dog. Enter Rescue. Rescue, is a black Lab who was supposed to be a seeing eye dog, but his skills were better suited to being a service dog. Jessica says in this article that "He's just softened every rough edge and brightened every dark moment. I call him my best medicine."

Reading the children’s book and seeing all the things Rescue helps Jessica with including grabbing items for her, opening doors, being able to use the telephone, really shows how invaluable service dogs are to those who need them. This is a heartwarming story of friendship and I’m so glad that Jessica and Rescue found each other and that she wrote a book about it so that we could share their story with our families.

6. Smoky “The Yorkie Doodle Dandy”: One of the first recognized therapy dogs

Smoky was a famous Yorkshire Terrier in World War II who belonged to Cpl. Bill Wynne. Not only did Smoky aid in the war effort on the battlefield (including surviving around 150 air raids on New Guinea and making it through a typhoon on Okinawa), but when Wynne caught dengue fever and was sent to the 233rd Station Hospital, his friends brought Smoky to visit to lift his spirits. However, Smoky didn’t just lift his spirits, the nurses, who were delighted by this sweet dog, brought her to visit other patients who had been wounded. Wynne had taught Smoky some tricks and soon those also made patients smile and laugh. After the war was over, Wynne and Smoky continued to visit hospitals, cheered up recuperating soldiers through her tricks and provided a comforting presence. Smoky retired in 1955, and she died in her sleep two years later in 1957 at the age of 14. Apparently, there is a memorial in Cleveland, Ohio honoring her as the “Yorkie Doodle Dandy and the Dog of All Wars”. You can read more about her story in this article and in this one.

I’ve always been impressed with therapy dogs and how in an instant they can provide comfort, confidence and solace. My sister has two therapy dogs that she brings to libraries and other places where children can either be comforted by them or read to them if they have trouble reading aloud. Therapy dogs are so valuable in so many settings so this story of one of the first therapy/service dogs in our history had to be shared.

I hope some of these stories have shown you how important service dogs are to our communities and to humanity. There are so many organizations to donate to and support, but here are a few I know, if you want to spread some good: Guide Dogs for the Blind, Freedom Service Dogs of America, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, America’s Vet Dogs, NEADS and Assistance Dogs International.