A Lifetime of Service

Earlier today it was brought to my attention that a golden retriever by the name of “Bretagne” passed away at the ripe age of 16 years old. Having experienced my own loss of a family dog a mere six months ago, the news of any dog passing onto their next journey is heart-wrenching for me. But as the news about this dog’s death spread furiously across every major new station in the country today, I realized that her story touched not only my heart but the heart of millions of Americans.

Bretagne was not just any golden retriever….she was the last known surviving 9/11 search and rescue dog.

Bretagne and her owner, Denise Corliss, were fresh graduates from Disaster City, a search and rescue training center in College Station, Texas when they were deployed to New York shortly after the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. They joined hundreds of other search and rescue teams—including about 300 other dogs—sent from around the world to search for survivors at Ground Zero. They worked 12 hours a day for two straight weeks. 

After 9/11, Bretagne and Corliss were called to action at several other national disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ivan. Bretagne retired from her dedicated service call when she was about 10 years old. In her retirement, Bretagne helped with the training of other rescue dogs as well as became a fixture at a local elementary school’s reading program. 

While I am well aware that there are hundreds of dedicated and hard-working dogs bravely serving our country and its citizens every single day in an abundance of ways, it was the video that introduced Bretagne to me today that left a lasting impression. 

Suffering from kidney failure, the decision was made to put Bretagne down today at a local veterinary hospital in Texas. Bretagne walked into the hospital on her own down an aisle comprised of two dozen firefighters saluting her. After she passed, Bretagne was draped in an American flag and carried back out to a second round of salutes. Video of this loving tribute has rapidly been circulating worldwide throughout the day. 

I have learned that there are two distinct types of people in this world: the people who know, understand, and can’t live without the love of a dog……and those to whom a dog will always just be a pet. But regardless of the ranking you place on the furry four-legged animals, there is something about Bretagne’s story and how it commanded such respect and admiration up until the very end that you can’t help but appreciate it.

To every dog out there, whether it be a service dog, hunting companion or just that contagious smile that greets you at the end of every day…..thank you for your unconditional love, loyalty and dedication to every life you came upon.

And to every dog owner who has confronted the ruthless brevity of their best friend’s life, just know that they are waiting for us and will be reunited with us someday. But until then, let us all try to lead our lives with an ounce of the unconditional love and dedication that our dogs always showed us.