Canine handlers for therapy and search and rescue dogs discuss their duties following 9/11 relief efforts.

On one of the most tragic days in American history, a group of brave heroes, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and innocent civilians, worked together to protect one another and escape the collapsing World Trade Center in New York City, which was surrounded by a deadly accumulation of smoke and debris.

Unbeknownst to them, hundreds of dogs and their handlers were among the heroes who joined the relief efforts after the terrorist attack on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, and tirelessly searched for any survivors and the remains of those who perished in the debris.

The global response was triggered by the nearly 3,000 people who tragically lost their lives.

The north and south towers of the World Trade Center, once standing tall, were reduced to rubble full of hazardous materials. In response to the terrorist attacks that shook the nation's history, workers from government and volunteer organizations displayed patriotism and selflessness, joining together to support the rescue efforts.

The bond between dogs and their handlers at Ground Zero was strengthened by a shared love for the country and respect for the fallen, as their responsibilities varied in the nine months following the deadliest attack on America.

Brittany, an American Kennel Club-registered golden retriever, was a member of Texas A&M Task Force 1 (TX-TF1). After months of training, she became a certified member of the FEMA Search and Rescue Canine team.

Since 2000, Denise Corliss has held her position as handler for TX-TF1 and has collaborated with Bretagne during her first official deployment to Ground Zero following the disastrous events.

Bretagne's role was to utilize her acute sense of smell to locate survivors amidst large piles of debris or water, as stated by Merribeth Kahlich, a spokesperson for TX-TF1, to Planet Chronicle Digital.

In 2014, she was awarded the Hero Dog Award for Search and Rescue, which recognizes canines that perform exceptional feats, such as saving lives on the battlefield, providing sight or hearing assistance to humans, or simply being a loyal companion to their human friends, as stated by Kahlich.

Bretagne worked as a Live-Find Canine Search Specialist for 11 years and assisted in disaster sites for Hurricanes Erica, Ivan, Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Ernesto, Dean, Gustav, and the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Kahlich, who worked at Ground Zero for 10 days, often collected only four hours of sleep before returning to work despite the undisclosed recovery of survivors or victims from the 9/11 terror attacks.

Bretagne, while waiting for their next search area assignment, unexpectedly took on the role of therapy dog, according to Kahlich.

"Denise was the recipient of comfort and affection from the firefighter who held her close and stroked her fur, as she was fiercely devoted to her."

At the age of 2, Bretagne helped comb through the wreckage of fallen buildings in Lower Manhattan. Despite retiring at 9, she was not content with relaxing and instead became a "reading dog" at a Texas elementary school, where she was a reading partner for many first-graders.

The Texas canine, who was both Corliss and her husband Randy's companion, lived to be 16 years old before passing away on June 6, 2016. Despite her deployment to Ground Zero, she did not experience any health issues associated with it, as stated by Kahlich.

"Kahlich stated that her body continued to serve after passing through tissue sample donations that were used in the 9/11 Canine Search and Rescue dog study at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center. This research aims to improve scientists' understanding of the long-term effects of canines who served during the 9/11 disaster."

Corliss continues to work as a handler on TX-TF1 and also serves as a canine evaluator and instructor for FEMA.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, a neighbor politely tapped on Frank Shane's front door, requesting a ride to work in New York City.

"It was a beautiful day," Shane told Planet Chronicle Digital.

Shane paused with Nikie, a K-9 disaster relief therapy dog, to admire the clear skies above the Hudson River while not in a hurry to return home.

""The day was serene, with a postcard-perfect blue sky and tranquility," he remarked."

Shane was aware that the sound he heard was a jet engine at full throttle, but it was only recently that the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 into the north tower of the World Trade Center hit him.

"Suddenly, Shane experienced a flashback of the sound he heard that day, which he had previously repressed."

New Yorkers, typically resilient, showed panic and alarm on their faces.

The next morning, Shane and Nikie returned to the West Side Highway with the intention of volunteering at Ground Zero. A New York Port Authority officer recognized Nikie from the previous day and stopped Shane's Jeep.

"Shane said, 'Go ahead, they need you,' while I didn't know what my job was going to be."

For nine months, Shane wore Nikie's work boots and vest and worked at Ground Zero until May 30, 2002, when the final column of rubble and destruction was removed.

""Nikie became an integral part of the community in the area, as people relied on him for assistance. Even some of the search and rescue personnel were struggling with depression, and their dogs were also affected due to the lack of success in finding anyone," Shane stated."

Nikie had experience emotionally supporting traumatized or sick individuals, and Shane knew he loved his job, though this particular assignment was not official in nature. During Nikie's training to become a therapy dog, Shane admitted that he had failed the last certification test 10 times.

"Although he did everything flawlessly, Shane admitted that he learned how to fail the final exam." "In the end, they decided to make him a therapy dog."

Family members of the victim would flock to respite areas in search of information about their loved ones, and Shane stated that they confided in Nikie. He mentioned that after his duties of maintaining peace and optimism among workers and volunteers ceased, Nikie became depressed and refused to eat.

"Shane stated that he didn't understand why he wasn't returning the next day because he felt aimless."

Shane rustled up worthwhile tasks for Nikie to resurrect his joy for giving.

Shane disclosed that Nikie, who worked at Ground Zero, fell gravely ill with an aggressive cancer, which is the illness that has claimed the lives of most canines employed there.

""In a way, he didn't suffer as he died quickly," Shane said."

In 2004, Nikie passed away. Shane donated Nikie's uniform, still soiled in dirt and debris, to the National 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City.

On Sept. 11, 2001, Bobbie Snyder and her husband watched in horror and anguish as the news of the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil unfolded from their home in Pennsylvania.

Snyder was determined to help in disaster relief efforts and planned to deploy to New York City with her yellow Labrador, Willow.

"Snyder recounted to Planet Chronicle Digital that they witnessed the plane crash into the tower and said, "I looked at my husband and said, 'You're going to have to take daddy to the doctor because I have to pack up my gear.'""

Snyder's priorities shifted upon the impact of the first plane, causing her father's doctor's appointment to be rescheduled for later that morning. That night, Snyder drove to Harrisburg, where her team, Pennsylvania Task Force One (PA-TF1), gathered together before deploying.

She stated that we arrived in New York City that evening.

In the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, an act of homegrown terrorism that claimed the lives of 168 people, according to the FBI website, Willow and Snyder first worked together bravely.

"Snyder stated that they didn't venture outside until the next day, which was completely unexpected."

The 12-hour shifts for PA-TF1 were divided into alternating groups.

"Our dogs were there to find the missing," Snyder said.

"The kill field was located across the river, and the dogs used for cadaver detection were present there. People brought toothbrushes and hairbrushes to search for their loved ones' remains. The streets were filled with pictures of families, and people pleaded for help in finding their missing members."

Snyder stated, "Our job was to locate our firemen and retrieve as many remains as possible. We accomplished this task as a team."

For two to three weeks, Snyder's 5-year-old dog, Willow, searched the rubble and used training, including a bark alert, to identify human remains.

"They instructed us to search this area, but I was unsure of where to begin. The scene was overwhelming, with rubble scattered everywhere."

Snyder, a New Jersey resident with experience in the medical field, is well-equipped to handle people in different conditions. However, she noted that her PA-TF1 training has prepared her for disaster relief efforts, requiring numerous certifications.

"Snyder stated, "You couldn't accomplish it, or you succeeded." He added, "Living near New York, I was frequently asked to visit the city.""

Despite relief from PA-TF1, Snyder and Willow continued their relief efforts at Ground Zero and were housed at the Ritz-Carlton.

"The 9/11 dogs were always kind to us, even though we couldn't leave dogs in the hotel. They loved having us there and always had clean uniforms."

Although the ruins at Ground Zero were destroyed and contained asbestos, neither Snyder, 78, nor Willow suffered any health consequences from searching through them.

Unfortunately, we have lost some team members, though, Snyder said.

Willow lived a long life and passed away from natural causes at the age of 15.