Dog Heroes of September 11th — A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs, now in its Tenth Anniversary second edition, is the first and only major publication to salute the canines that served our nation in the recovery missions following the terrorists’ strikes on America. In his foreword to this edition, former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani says, “No American could be unmoved by the … by the stories and images of these dogs and their handlers….Their journeys, as told in these pages, reinforce our resolve to persevere, rebuild and keep our nation safe and strong.”
A testament to man’s best friend and his most critical role in American history, Dog Heroes of September 11th pays tribute to 79 canine heroes and their handlers, retelling their heart-stirring stories and photographically capturing many defining moments of the days that followed September 11, 2001.
This oversized gift book features over 400 color photographs, many never seen except in this publication. Nona Kilgore Bauer, who has won multiple awards for her books on dogs, interviewed each of the handlers who participated in the recovery efforts at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, Shanksville, Penn., and the Fresh Kills landfill, the site to which remains from the fallen towers were transported, and lovingly retells their stories of heroism and bravery.
In its first edition (released in 2006), Dog Heroes of September 11th won numerous awards, including book of the year from the Dog Writers Association of America, Book-of-the-Month Club, and the Independent Book Publishers Association.
The second edition, expanded with over 100 new pages and over 150 new full-color photographs, presents chapters on military working dogs in Iraq and Afghanistan, the therapy dogs who worked at Ground Zero, the SDF’s new National Training Center, and post-9/11 rescue missions at home and abroad. A special section, written by selected 9/11 handlers, pays tributes to their canine partners who passed away after their recovery missions.
In addition to paying tribute to the dog-and-handler teams that were deployed after the attacks, this I-5 Press book supports the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) in its mission to produce certified search and rescue teams to protect our whole nation. A portion of the proceeds of Dog Heroes of September 11th benefits the SDF.
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This wonderful book presents profiles in courage for the many search dogs who brought solace to families of 9/11. They were charged with finding loved ones’ remains at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Fresh Kills in Staten Island. Significant and emotional stories about these dogs’ lives and actions, told by their handlers, are captivating. The bond between each dog and his handler is as beautiful as the photographs. A definition of hero is feats of courage, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. Yes courage, but these dogs would have it no other way.
The dogs performed miracles for words of encouragement, a pat, a game and love. This book is a tribute to their efforts and successes. Unfortunately one book does not contain every dog who served so honorably, but the many depicted here represent them all well.
The handlers’ words are humble. They express how they were deeply touched by the tremendous outpouring of support received from so many people over 9/11. They speak of the cards and posters from schoolchildren, delicious meals prepared by a volunteer chef sent in by the Salvation Army, huge pallets of donated dog food for the dogs and countless hours donated by the veterinarians. They note how so many people showed their appreciation in meaningful ways.
After reading this book, I better understand that service dogs serve because they love it. Also, I’ll have a better appreciation for the many people who have put time, effort and skill into teaching the dog to do a complex job. When these dogs are at work, a switch turns on for them and their handlers to do the job they’re trained for. But during the job, the handlers make the search itself into a game of “hunt” in order to keep the dogs’ morale up and engaged day after day. When the work shift is over, the switch is flipped to love, to play, and to relax as a regular dog. These dogs love the challenge, and the hunt, and the opportunity to serve their handlers, as much as they love their down time.
This book includes a memorial to the heroes of Shanksville Flight 93. The book includes a chapter about Therapy Dogs who provide comfort to people during crisis. These touching stories will warm your heart.
The chapter describing the training given to the Search and Rescue dogs will amaze you at how quickly these smart, enthusiastic animals absorb intricate training and how they deftly apply what they learn. It takes the right dog who is especially excited about the game of “the hunt”, matched with the right handler, and given the right training. I was gratified to hear stories of some of the search and rescue dogs as originally being rescued or abandoned dogs.
The advantage of this 10th anniversary edition is that you are given the “where they are now” chapter. Many of the 9/11 search dogs have passed away, but some are still alive and enjoying retirement or semi-retirement. Although 9/11 was a great, great service to their country, these dogs’ lives include other search and rescue stories that are also gripping.
There is a Chapter on the MWD – Military Working Dog. For America, dogs in the military began with WWI. What Larry Chilcoat says about his military dog during the Vietnam War will give you one example of the bonds established. “After more than 40 years, I still carry a photo of Geisha in my wallet; she changed my life. She was my lifeblood in a jungle nightmare, and we both relied on each other day and night to survive. She heard things I didn’t and let me know. I knew she would die to protect me.”
As America’s response to the 2001 terrorist attacks increased our military fighting presence overseas, the need also increased for canine assistance. The canine as a bomb detector has become the latest tool in the U.S. war on terror, and has been invaluable in the Middle East. It seems that the Labrador retriever is the ideal candidate for the role of IED (Improvised Explosive Device) Detection Specialist.
Volunteer canine handlers incur tremendous expenses to train and maintain these dogs during their careers, and then in retirement. In 2000, Sam Balsam founded a nonprofit 501(c ) (3) organization called Search and Rescue Assist to help SAR volunteers with the training of their dogs. The organization hopes to offset some of the expenses and thereby increase the quality of those dedicated teams.
This book is a precious tribute. We will never forget.