STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Well. Reading this last page during my lunch break at a nice park was clearly a mistake.
Must be my allergies. :clearsthroat:
Must be my allergies. :clearsthroat:
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Dogs are freaking AWESOME. (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter matttyl
- Start date
Ned
Footballguy
Seeing this thread bumped compelled me to post an update.Our house has been empty for the past 7 months after having to put down our second lab back in March. Losing both of our dogs at 14.5 years old within the span of 8 months was a lot to process, but we've healed and felt ready to add a new dog to the family. We started working with a lab rescue to find our next dog in August; after a long process, we finally found a pup for us.
We picked up Walter on Thursday afternoon. He was a stray in Philly that someone happened to find being beaten by someone. The Good Samaritan scooped him up and turned him into the local shelter last month. The lab rescue pulled him from the shelter and gave him to a foster family to rehab a few weeks ago. He had a gash on his head that required stitches, but no worse for wear. With everything he's been through in the last month plus, he's an incredibly well behaved pup. We're super lucky to have found him.
He's a lab-mix that is the sweetest dog I've ever met. Short and stocky with huge feet - seems like he's part basset hound. We're all head over heels in love with him after just a few days.
We are incredibly proud of Walter and the dog he's become. He has been damn near perfect. I could write pages about his progress, so I'll just put it in bullets:
- He's so eager to please you which makes him very trainable. He's mastered leave it, wait, come, and 'this way' (we use that to redirect him when we're off leash and change routes)
- Almost seems like he came pre-programmed with recall skills. He's amazing off leash - he's earned our 100% trust.
- He didn't know how to retrieve, but now can retrieve anything I throw - including actual ducks.
- Has the perfect soft hold already, which is a huge step if we teach him to be our duck dog.
- Never an accident in the house.
- Incredibly loyal, loves to snuggle with the kids
- Just yesterday discovered how to swim; after the 3rd try he was retrieving tennis balls and a duck trainer from the pond for an hour straight.
- We are still working on his excitement when seeing other dogs. Its the only time he loses his mind; always desperate to go play with them immediately.
rustycolts
Footballguy
I'm going to have to put down our 13 year old shih tzu today. His kidneys are shutting down. Today is his last treatment of 3. We were really hopeing to give him a few more months but the treatments don't seem to be working. Bad thing is we also have his mom and she is 14 so we will be going through this again soon.
It seems so unfair that dogs lifes are so short with all the joy and love they give you. In the past 13 years I have barely changed but Gator has lived his whole life their time is just too short.
It seems so unfair that dogs lifes are so short with all the joy and love they give you. In the past 13 years I have barely changed but Gator has lived his whole life their time is just too short.
NYRAGE
Footballguy
Sorry to hear about your dog Their lives are definitely too short.
I just had to euthanize the last of my 3 elderly dogs a couple of nights ago. It's been tough to lose all three in the past 3 years.
I have a Shih Tzu that's going to be 2 years old next month. I have some friends that say that they could never go through the pain of losing another dog again. It is tough, but I agree with Lord Alfred Tennyson: "Tis better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all". All these dogs do is give a lot of love.
My mother-in-laws Shih Tzu passed away this morning. He was almost 15 years old and had a bad heart. My wife is an absolute mess. She has taken care of him for those 15 years and it was just as much her dog. He has been through 4 knee surgeries and we were told in July 2019 he didn't have long due to a "wicked" heart murmur. He went on medication and it helped for awhile. He started taking pills twice a day 8 months ago and my wife has been giving them to him everyday at 6am and 6pm. She did everything she could to give him the best life possible. I don't think her mom can get another dog as she is 80 and can't take care of one. I took him on walks 4 to 5 times a week and he loved that. I will definitely miss him too.
JoeSteeler
Footballguy
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
Im sure I posted about her before by my baby Stella is by far the best dog I have ever had and while I loved all my other dogs, its not even close. I cherish this dog. Shes loyal, sweet, great with my girls and protective.
Shes 8 years old now and I cherish every moment I have with her. I sometimes catch myself outside with her and Ill be on my phone and Ill remind myself, there will be a day that I would give anything to just play fight with her or sit with her one last time and I put that stupid phone down. (Kinda morbid I know, but Im Irish and we love to think about death) when she goes I will probably cry for weeks.
Stella at 6 weeks
She loves sitting in chairs
Lets us know when its time to go for a walk
My wife jokes that I have more pictures of Stella than I do my own kids and shes probably right.
Baby its cold outside
Shes 8 years old now and I cherish every moment I have with her. I sometimes catch myself outside with her and Ill be on my phone and Ill remind myself, there will be a day that I would give anything to just play fight with her or sit with her one last time and I put that stupid phone down. (Kinda morbid I know, but Im Irish and we love to think about death) when she goes I will probably cry for weeks.
Stella at 6 weeks
She loves sitting in chairs
Lets us know when its time to go for a walk
My wife jokes that I have more pictures of Stella than I do my own kids and shes probably right.
Baby its cold outside
Leeroy Jenkins
Footballguy
Hey Guys. This is a thread that I never thought I would post in, as for most of my life, I have been anti-dog. The other day, however, I relented and agreed to a boxer puppy with “reverse brindle” and symmetrical white markings. After agreeing, however, some road blocks got put up with work travel and having to drive 6 hours round trip to get the dog. Being already hesitant and with my anxiety high, we canceled the puppy.
Now we all regret it and he is gone. I legit now actually want one — like it took me having and losing the opportunity to realize that I have come around and see the benefits for out whole family, including mysed.
I am seeking the wisdom of the board to help me find reputable Boxer breeders and seek other general advice. My life depends on it (wife and kids may murder me).
Now we all regret it and he is gone. I legit now actually want one — like it took me having and losing the opportunity to realize that I have come around and see the benefits for out whole family, including mysed.
I am seeking the wisdom of the board to help me find reputable Boxer breeders and seek other general advice. My life depends on it (wife and kids may murder me).
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Chemical X
Footballguy
i think you should try and spend as much money as possible to get the dog of your dreams. pure and true of heart…. i mean, it’s not like places are just giving dogs that need homes away nowadays.
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Captain Cranks
Footballguy
I'm sorry to hear, man. My dog is only 16 months, but I already find myself dreading the stage that you're at. It's like having a child I know will likely die before me.Osaurus said:
Hoping for the best for you and your family.
rustycolts
Footballguy
https://imghttps://imgur.com/a/pc6AUz2ur.com/a/pc6AUz2 This our new guy he is something else love him to death. Just a PSA came home last night and Jax was bobbin his head very slowly left and right and was walking like he was drunk. He was very lethargic and then he would have a burst of energy like the crazy dog he is then back to walking drunk. Was very worried that it might be something neurological. He was dribbling urine as well. Turns out he was stoned. My wife must have dropped one of her MM capsules at some point and he found it. So we had one stoned pup on our hands. It was a real relief thats all it was. So if you partake legally or not so legal be sure to be careful with your weed because dogs like it too.
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
Joe Mammy
Footballguy
That's a handsome young guy. I'm in between doggers and debating adopting another, I want an old guy that nobody wants from the shelter...
Mister CIA
Footballguy
Shula-holic
Footballguy
We had to put our 12 1/2 year old dog down yesterday. We got him from the shelter before we had kids and about 6 months before I left my job to work for myself from home. He basically has spent every day, all day with me from that point on. He was a golden/chow mix. We were first time dog owners and didn't see the chow in his ears which is why he was at the shelter for awhile I think. But he was very much the golden with our two daughters and the chow when it came to being protective of them.
We knew the time was nearing, he had a stroke maybe a month ago, had started drinking tons, needing out 2-3 times over the night. He was having issues with walking and doing any stairs. He went out Saturday morning and had issues getting back inside, so much so that my wife and I had to lift him up and he started yelping in pain. We managed to get him into the basement that afternoon and he just never could stand again. His mind was there, he would eat, but his body quit on him. Even though I knew it was time to let him go it was a hard thing to have to do.
We knew the time was nearing, he had a stroke maybe a month ago, had started drinking tons, needing out 2-3 times over the night. He was having issues with walking and doing any stairs. He went out Saturday morning and had issues getting back inside, so much so that my wife and I had to lift him up and he started yelping in pain. We managed to get him into the basement that afternoon and he just never could stand again. His mind was there, he would eat, but his body quit on him. Even though I knew it was time to let him go it was a hard thing to have to do.
rustycolts
Footballguy
Man it's one of the hardest things you will have to do in life. Dogs bring so much joy to our lives. My mama Shi Tzu is now almost 16 years old. She has out lived all her pups. I know she has very little time left. She has doggie dementia has a real hard time getting off her favorite chair without our help. I just can't bring myself to do it even though I know her quality of life is not real good. Every now and then the old Casey comes shining through and it makes it that much harder.
I am not a real religious person but I hope there is some kind of afterlife and that all my buddies will be there to greet me like they did when on earth.
You just have to love
rustycolts
Footballguy
Got to love dogs but man sometimes they can test your patience. We are painting the inside of our house. I didn't want to leave Bo out in the living room while we went out to eat because of wet paint. I guess he didn't like that.
https://imgur.com/a/feRBuuh
https://imgur.com/a/Xi6sZES
https://imgur.com/a/qRLiFAG
https://imgur.com/a/feRBuuh
https://imgur.com/a/Xi6sZES
https://imgur.com/a/qRLiFAG
Chemical X
Footballguy
so, my rescue, who we are calling 13 in about a week, has doggy dementia. aka canine cognitive disease. i came to post here just as a way to inform and kind of vent for a moment. we got him january 2016 and called him 7 yrs, he was found on the side of the road and we adopted via rescue. i wanted an older guy, cause i don’t have long term plans here and couldn’t do another 15 years honestly. he had big time separation issues, but otherwise was a real fun dog. about 1.5 yrs ago we started to notice some strange stuff…..he seemed to pace a lot, more than usual. seemed to forget the house, how to climb stairs. i just laughed it off, age, him getting older, dog stuff. i had no idea CCD was a thing. he started getting worse. stuck in corners, endless pacing, forgot how to use the dog door to go out, some accidents inside. we started him on gabapentin march 2021and he had a small seizure about 1 week into the meds. we immediately stopped. he hasn’t had a seizure since, but he has been on a slow decline and i can’t snap him out. we are trying anipryl, a med which seems to help the disease, it it hasn’t hit him yet. i just bought him some hills b/d food, which i’ve read can help brain function. luckily i’ve been WFH for 2 years, but also unlucky cause i spend most days with him downstairs while mrs. works upstairs. i don’t think i’ve been a good owner or friend to him. he grates my patience badly and i know it’s not his fault, but it is rough. i don’t take it out on him of course, but i’m not as smiley as i could be i guess if it was a human relative suffering. i must seem angry to him a lot. it’s hard getting him back in the yard after he goes out, since he wanders aimlessly for 10-15 minutes until i get him to remember or recognize. i carry him up and down the stairs, i get him outside multiple times day, i take him for walks, i clean up his pee and poo. he sleeps the night thankfully, but there are some nights when he is up at 2a. He is a dog in name only. he seems to have energy and eats and poops like a champ, but he has no idea. i find him splayed a lot and i need to pop him on his feet a lot. he gets into strange places and spots and is constantly stuck. watching his decline has stressed me badly and i am easily agitated nowadays. i find i have a hard time getting involved in normal activities, since i need to be on alert. really can’t travel, leaving with him with his foster family is stressful. hard to get to the beach condo since we really can’t leave him alone and the condo steps kill me. we get a sitter for a bit sometimes, but it’s just more stress. my ultimate goal is living in italy with the mrs. and i’d be there right now probably, but we aren’t going because we are letting our dog live out his life. but everyday seems a different stressful struggle and i sometimes find myself resentful of the dog. i hate to say that and i hate to think that, but here i am. it’s hard to describe in a post, but i don’t know what i am hoping for here. part of me wants to think it’s his time, part of me wants to be a better pet parent and help him because he is part of the family and i can’t quit on him like he’s a worn out rug. but i want to get on with my life. i just don’t know. the mrs. won’t speak about the options right now. like i said, i just wanted to vent a little and i do suppose this is what being a pet parent is, but man……..my last guy was sharp as a whip till his body finally gave into to cancer and i figured this guy would go a similar route, but watching his mind turn to mush and thinking to myself what must he be thinking, if he thinks at all, is gutting sometimes. i hope to god that none of you experience or experienced this ever with a human, much less a dog. i can’t imagine the stress on everyone. i feel like on a calm scale, with 10 being the worst, i would normally be a 2. i am easy going and pretty care free. it’s about the only thing that has helped me deal and cope. not much bothers me, i don’t get riled up. i am not a 1 since i do come from a place many years ago where i had a ragefully hideous temper. it took me many years to get it under control and i find myself working on that aspect everyday. my anger pops out internally now and then when i am scrubbing urine or trying to corral the dog, but thankfully nothing that triggers a meltdown. well, just wanted to destress here a bit and provide a note for you dog owners and to see if anyone might have seen this in their dogs with any suggestions.
PSA - if you didn’t already know and you see these symptoms, it could be CCD, so talk to the vet.
PSA - if you didn’t already know and you see these symptoms, it could be CCD, so talk to the vet.
rustycolts
Footballguy
@Chemical XGoing through this right now with Casey my 16 year old Shi Tzu. It's very very tough. Not only does she have doggy dementia she can only see out of one eye and can barely hear. We raised her from a pup. She had one litter of pups and outlived them all. I know the humane thing to do is to put her down She really has no quality of life and I don't think she knows who we are anymore. I just can't bring myself to do what needs to be done. I still love that dog so much. She so old that I was hoping she would make it easy on me but she's not cooperating thank goodness.
Don't beat yourself up brother it's a hard thing to go through as a dog lover. You know what needs to be done but just can't do it. It's called being a decent human being.
Don't beat yourself up brother it's a hard thing to go through as a dog lover. You know what needs to be done but just can't do it. It's called being a decent human being.
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belljr
Footballguy
We took in my wife's grandfather dog after he passed. She didn't have a home. She's 11. Been with us 3 months and gosh darn her anxiety is off the charts. I can't take a piss without her sitting outside the door. Anxiety training has been slow going.
And how dumb as humans are we. My morning consisted of walking around the back yard picking up frozen ####.....
And how dumb as humans are we. My morning consisted of walking around the back yard picking up frozen ####.....
johnnycakes
Footballguy
Doody Calls.And how dumb as humans are we. My morning consisted of walking around the back yard picking up frozen ####.....
Just a heads up if anyone uses Seresto flea collars. https://www.whio.com/news/local/deadly-dog-collars/LE3HW36EQFA65D5A6RE2BH6SPM/
rustycolts
Footballguy
My wife has had some health issues and needs a walker now. We put some tennis balls on the legs to make it easier to get around.
Thing is my goofie Bloodhound has started guarding the tennis balls on the walker. Now anytime our little Frenchie gets near the walker Bo looses his ever loving mind. I'm afraid he is going to hurt our little bull dog.
Any suggestions on how to break this.
Guard dog https://imgur.com/gallery/95zLPXI
Thing is my goofie Bloodhound has started guarding the tennis balls on the walker. Now anytime our little Frenchie gets near the walker Bo looses his ever loving mind. I'm afraid he is going to hurt our little bull dog.
Any suggestions on how to break this.
Guard dog https://imgur.com/gallery/95zLPXI
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Galileo
Footballguy
Dog sets record for longest frisbee catch - 109 yds
I wonder how well he could catch a Ritz cracker.
I wonder how well he could catch a Ritz cracker.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
My dog has mouth cancer. Big ol' tumor in her mouth that stinks to high heaven. Her back legs are getting extremely weak. Today she had almost no energy.
But she doesn't complain about pain (i.e. She's not whining) and she still had her appetite.
I just don't know if I'm being unfair to her and using the second of conditions over the first as justification for not putting her down.
She's been the best dog ever and I will miss her terribly.
But she doesn't complain about pain (i.e. She's not whining) and she still had her appetite.
I just don't know if I'm being unfair to her and using the second of conditions over the first as justification for not putting her down.
She's been the best dog ever and I will miss her terribly.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
I'm so sorry. Most people have pointed out that your dog will let you know when it's time. I sould likely just spoil your buddy like crazy.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
ChiefD
Footballguy
Sorry to hear. May she rest in peace.
Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
I think Flickr kinda sucks.
And so does cancer. Penny's mouth tumor doubled in size this last week. We were second guessing ourselves five days ago - but today we know it was the right decision to put her to sleep.
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Wingnut
Footballguy
We adopted a dog right before Xmas, a 6 year old 40lb hound mix, she's the sweetest thing. It's been over 20 years since I had a dog and I'm loving it. Her story:
She was trapped inside a Mobile home with her 5 puppies and the father of the pups. The Mobile home was filled with filth and debris and the dogs had no access to the outdoors and were forced to relieve themselves inside the home. The environment was a hostile one ending with one of her owners shooting the other.
There was no running water or working toilets for the humans, and the dogs, who had no access to food or water, were walking skeletons, scared and hiding within a tunnel system they created through the debris and clutter in the home. The officers had to crawl through the filth to carefully remove each pup in the home.
Her, her 5 puppies and their father were named the Lucky 7, and all of them have since been placed in foster homes or adopted.
Roxy:
She was trapped inside a Mobile home with her 5 puppies and the father of the pups. The Mobile home was filled with filth and debris and the dogs had no access to the outdoors and were forced to relieve themselves inside the home. The environment was a hostile one ending with one of her owners shooting the other.
There was no running water or working toilets for the humans, and the dogs, who had no access to food or water, were walking skeletons, scared and hiding within a tunnel system they created through the debris and clutter in the home. The officers had to crawl through the filth to carefully remove each pup in the home.
Her, her 5 puppies and their father were named the Lucky 7, and all of them have since been placed in foster homes or adopted.
Roxy:
BroncoFreak_2K3
sucker for Orange
What an unbelievable story and a beautiful dog. Glad the previous scum that owned them is gone and she has a much better life.We adopted a dog right before Xmas, a 6 year old 40lb hound mix, she's the sweetest thing. It's been over 20 years since I had a dog and I'm loving it. Her story:
She was trapped inside a Mobile home with her 5 puppies and the father of the pups. The Mobile home was filled with filth and debris and the dogs had no access to the outdoors and were forced to relieve themselves inside the home. The environment was a hostile one ending with one of her owners shooting the other.
There was no running water or working toilets for the humans, and the dogs, who had no access to food or water, were walking skeletons, scared and hiding within a tunnel system they created through the debris and clutter in the home. The officers had to crawl through the filth to carefully remove each pup in the home.
Her, her 5 puppies and their father were named the Lucky 7, and all of them have since been placed in foster homes or adopted.
Roxy:
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
Roxy is indeed a fortunate dog. Scritches to her.We adopted a dog right before Xmas, a 6 year old 40lb hound mix, she's the sweetest thing. It's been over 20 years since I had a dog and I'm loving it. Her story:
She was trapped inside a Mobile home with her 5 puppies and the father of the pups. The Mobile home was filled with filth and debris and the dogs had no access to the outdoors and were forced to relieve themselves inside the home. The environment was a hostile one ending with one of her owners shooting the other.
There was no running water or working toilets for the humans, and the dogs, who had no access to food or water, were walking skeletons, scared and hiding within a tunnel system they created through the debris and clutter in the home. The officers had to crawl through the filth to carefully remove each pup in the home.
Her, her 5 puppies and their father were named the Lucky 7, and all of them have since been placed in foster homes or adopted.
Roxy:
STEADYMOBBIN 22
Footballguy
We adopted a dog right before Xmas, a 6 year old 40lb hound mix, she's the sweetest thing. It's been over 20 years since I had a dog and I'm loving it. Her story:
She was trapped inside a Mobile home with her 5 puppies and the father of the pups. The Mobile home was filled with filth and debris and the dogs had no access to the outdoors and were forced to relieve themselves inside the home. The environment was a hostile one ending with one of her owners shooting the other.
There was no running water or working toilets for the humans, and the dogs, who had no access to food or water, were walking skeletons, scared and hiding within a tunnel system they created through the debris and clutter in the home. The officers had to crawl through the filth to carefully remove each pup in the home.
Her, her 5 puppies and their father were named the Lucky 7, and all of them have since been placed in foster homes or adopted.
Roxy:
Awesome! That dog deserves it. Nice work man.
Judge Smails
Footballguy
We've been blessed with dogs. First was our yellow lab, Bailey. He lasted almost 16 years, from the time my youngest daughter was born until she was a senior in high school. When he crossed the rainbow bridge (ate like a horse until his final days, but back legs went out) it was so tough that we waited a year and a half to get another dog. We hit the jackpot with Louie. The most human ever. English Chocolate Lab. A beast. Dad's name was Diesel and he looked the part. But just a gentle giant, full of life, loved people and dogs. He was such a huge part of our family. Started slowing down as he was approaching 12 in a few months but doing OK. Two 45 minute walks a day, etc. Started throwing up a few days ago. Thought he was getting better but he threw up twice the morning of the 3rd day. Took him to our regular vet. Came in and she got down on one knee to talk with us and I knew it wasn't good. Said his bloodwork showed both this kidneys and liver were failing. One value was supposed to be less than 100 and it was over 2,000. Not good. Said she was very concerned and that he needed intensive care immediately but even then the prognosis was guarded at best. Took him to the best animal hospital around, near UCLA. Plan was to give him IV's, fluids, antibiotics etc then run CTs if needed (was too big for an ultrasound to show everything). We left him overnight and it was so hard. Got the call on Good Friday at 10am and the Internist said the news wasn't good. His bloodwork was worse. Oh man.
She said there was nothing we can do and his body had stopped producing urine, so he was just about in full renal failure. I asked through tears if I could take him home. She said yes, but only if we could have a vet come that day. We called Lap of Love and fortunately on Easter weekend they could do it. All of my kids came home as I went to get Louie. He was comfortable. He actually took a couple bites of Chick Fil A and then we gave him a final puppycino. He laid on the grass as the sun hit him and was resting as we were all petting him and talking with him. I have to say Lap of Love is a great organization. It was peaceful. We gave him a terrific life and he gave us more than we gave him. It's so hard. But I told Mrs. Smails we'll take 2 bad days out of 28 great years. RIP Louie. You were the best boy.
She said there was nothing we can do and his body had stopped producing urine, so he was just about in full renal failure. I asked through tears if I could take him home. She said yes, but only if we could have a vet come that day. We called Lap of Love and fortunately on Easter weekend they could do it. All of my kids came home as I went to get Louie. He was comfortable. He actually took a couple bites of Chick Fil A and then we gave him a final puppycino. He laid on the grass as the sun hit him and was resting as we were all petting him and talking with him. I have to say Lap of Love is a great organization. It was peaceful. We gave him a terrific life and he gave us more than we gave him. It's so hard. But I told Mrs. Smails we'll take 2 bad days out of 28 great years. RIP Louie. You were the best boy.
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matttyl
Footballguy
A 9/11 post about the dogs….
It was the dogs. The dogs are what got me.
A few years ago we visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and we saw a lot. Twisted steel girders. Baby-faced portraits of the deceased. Mutilated emergency vehicles.
But it was the dogs that wrecked me.
The dog exhibit is pretty small. Located in the far corner of the museum, with photographs of search and rescue dogs.
You see dogs nosing through rubble, wearing safety harnesses. You see them in their prime. They’re all deceased now. But they were spectacular.
There was Riley. Golden retriever. He was trained to find living people. But, he didn’t find any. Instead, he recovered the remains of firefighters. Riley kept searching for a live survivor, but found none. Riley’s morale tanked.
“I tried my best to tell Riley he was doing his job,” said his handler. “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 altogether different job. He provided comfort. Or maybe he did know.”
There was Coby and Guiness. Black and yellow Labs. From California. Surfer dogs. They found dozens of human remains.
And Abigail. Golden Lab. Happy. Energetic. Committed. Big fan of bacon.
Sage. A border collie. Cheerful. Endless energy. Her first mission was searching the Pentagon wreckage after the attacks. She recovered the body of the terrorist who piloted American Airlines Flight 77.
Jenner. Black Lab. At age 9, he was one of the oldest dogs on the scene. Jenner’s handler, Ann Wichmann, remembers:
“It was 12 to 15 stories high of rubble and twisted steel. My first thought was, ‘I can't send Jenner into that…’ At one point, [Jenner] disappeared down a hole under the rubble and I was like, ‘Ugggggh!' Such a heart-stopping moment..."
Trakr. German Shepherd. Tireless worker. Worked until he couldn’t stand up anymore. Trakr found Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was trapped for 27 hours among the debris. Genelle was as good as dead, until the cold nose poked through the mangled steel.
Apollo. German shepherd. An NYPD police dog. Coal-black muzzle. Liquid eyes. The first dog on the scene, only 15 minutes after the attacks. Apollo worked 18-hour days. Once, he was nearly killed in a fire during his search. But Apollo had been drenched in water and he was quick on his feet. No injuries.
Jake. Labrador. As a puppy, Jake was found on the side of the road in Dallas. Abandoned. Left for dead. Like trash. He had a dislocated hip and a broken leg. They made him a rescue dog.
Jake worked until his body threatened to collapse from exhaustion. After his shifts, local New York merchants saw his rescue-dog vest and treated him to free steak dinners in upscale Manhattan restaurants.
And, of course, there was Bretagne. Golden Retriever. Easygoing. Dutiful. Obsessed with food. Her owner and trainer, Denise Corliss, a firefighter from Harris County, Texas, brought Bretagne to Ground Zero while the rubble was still hot.
Bretagne went straight to work. She worked for 10 days solid. Ten agonizing days. Bretagne never quit. She napped onsite.
Denise recalls: “...There are images of Bretagne going to where she was directed to search, into the unknown, the chaotic environment. But even then, she knew who needed the comfort of a dog, and which firefighter needed to hold her close and stroke her fur.”
After 9/11, Bretagne also helped recovery efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Ivan. She retired at age 9.
Old age finally overtook her, she had a hard time using stairs, so Denise installed an above-ground pool to keep Bretagne’s joints limber.
In retirement, Bretagne became a reading dog at a local elementary school. First graders, too shy to read aloud, would read to a white-faced, elderly retriever who looked them in the eyes and smiled.
Bretagne visited students with special needs. She visited students with autism. She visited everyone.
She suffered kidney failure at age 16. She was put to sleep on June 7, 2016, and became the last of the 9/11 rescue dogs to end her earthly career.
Bretagne hobbled into the Cypress, Texas, animal hospital, one sunny Monday, only to discover the sidewalks and hallways were lined with firefighters, first responders, and rescue workers who saluted her.
Her remains were later escorted from the hospital, draped in an American flag.
We do not deserve dogs.
It was the dogs. The dogs are what got me.
A few years ago we visited the 9/11 Memorial Museum, and we saw a lot. Twisted steel girders. Baby-faced portraits of the deceased. Mutilated emergency vehicles.
But it was the dogs that wrecked me.
The dog exhibit is pretty small. Located in the far corner of the museum, with photographs of search and rescue dogs.
You see dogs nosing through rubble, wearing safety harnesses. You see them in their prime. They’re all deceased now. But they were spectacular.
There was Riley. Golden retriever. He was trained to find living people. But, he didn’t find any. Instead, he recovered the remains of firefighters. Riley kept searching for a live survivor, but found none. Riley’s morale tanked.
“I tried my best to tell Riley he was doing his job,” said his handler. “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 altogether different job. He provided comfort. Or maybe he did know.”
There was Coby and Guiness. Black and yellow Labs. From California. Surfer dogs. They found dozens of human remains.
And Abigail. Golden Lab. Happy. Energetic. Committed. Big fan of bacon.
Sage. A border collie. Cheerful. Endless energy. Her first mission was searching the Pentagon wreckage after the attacks. She recovered the body of the terrorist who piloted American Airlines Flight 77.
Jenner. Black Lab. At age 9, he was one of the oldest dogs on the scene. Jenner’s handler, Ann Wichmann, remembers:
“It was 12 to 15 stories high of rubble and twisted steel. My first thought was, ‘I can't send Jenner into that…’ At one point, [Jenner] disappeared down a hole under the rubble and I was like, ‘Ugggggh!' Such a heart-stopping moment..."
Trakr. German Shepherd. Tireless worker. Worked until he couldn’t stand up anymore. Trakr found Genelle Guzman-McMillan, who was trapped for 27 hours among the debris. Genelle was as good as dead, until the cold nose poked through the mangled steel.
Apollo. German shepherd. An NYPD police dog. Coal-black muzzle. Liquid eyes. The first dog on the scene, only 15 minutes after the attacks. Apollo worked 18-hour days. Once, he was nearly killed in a fire during his search. But Apollo had been drenched in water and he was quick on his feet. No injuries.
Jake. Labrador. As a puppy, Jake was found on the side of the road in Dallas. Abandoned. Left for dead. Like trash. He had a dislocated hip and a broken leg. They made him a rescue dog.
Jake worked until his body threatened to collapse from exhaustion. After his shifts, local New York merchants saw his rescue-dog vest and treated him to free steak dinners in upscale Manhattan restaurants.
And, of course, there was Bretagne. Golden Retriever. Easygoing. Dutiful. Obsessed with food. Her owner and trainer, Denise Corliss, a firefighter from Harris County, Texas, brought Bretagne to Ground Zero while the rubble was still hot.
Bretagne went straight to work. She worked for 10 days solid. Ten agonizing days. Bretagne never quit. She napped onsite.
Denise recalls: “...There are images of Bretagne going to where she was directed to search, into the unknown, the chaotic environment. But even then, she knew who needed the comfort of a dog, and which firefighter needed to hold her close and stroke her fur.”
After 9/11, Bretagne also helped recovery efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Ivan. She retired at age 9.
Old age finally overtook her, she had a hard time using stairs, so Denise installed an above-ground pool to keep Bretagne’s joints limber.
In retirement, Bretagne became a reading dog at a local elementary school. First graders, too shy to read aloud, would read to a white-faced, elderly retriever who looked them in the eyes and smiled.
Bretagne visited students with special needs. She visited students with autism. She visited everyone.
She suffered kidney failure at age 16. She was put to sleep on June 7, 2016, and became the last of the 9/11 rescue dogs to end her earthly career.
Bretagne hobbled into the Cypress, Texas, animal hospital, one sunny Monday, only to discover the sidewalks and hallways were lined with firefighters, first responders, and rescue workers who saluted her.
Her remains were later escorted from the hospital, draped in an American flag.
We do not deserve dogs.
Mrs. Rannous
Footballguy
This was a local story for us. An amazing creature. We should all do so well.
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