Bretagne worked in rescue efforts in New York City after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.

Bretagne died last Monday. She was 16 years old.

 Follo

Bretagne was a golden retriever.

She helped to search for survivors and recover human remains from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Over 2,500 people were killed when terrorists flew airplanes into the twin towers.

The World Trade Center was Bretagne’s first deployment. She was only two years old at the time.

Denise Corliss was the dog’s handler. She cared for Bretagne. They worked together in the area known as Ground Zero for 10 days.

The dog also worked at other disasters, including three major hurricanes.

Bretagne retired from active duty at age nine.

According to Texas A&M University, the dog continued working in Texas as an ambassador with the local fire department. She also visited people who were sick, and children in learn-to-read programs. The university oversees a search-and-rescue program.

A member of the team that worked with Bretagne says she took her job seriously, but was always ready to help others, get a belly rub, or have a treat.

On Monday, on her way to see a doctor, Bretagne walked past a group of firefighters and rescue workers who gave her one final salute.

One news report called her “a four-legged hero.”

And that’s What’s Trending Today.

I’m Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

How do you feel about Bretagne, the last remaining 9/11 rescue dog? We want to hear from you.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

Today can be a very difficult time for those whose animal losses are recent and those who remember decades of joy with a companion animal. The pain can return with suprising force, even though you may have had weeks or months of healing. You may wonder if this means you will never recover from their absence.  You may feel isolated and lonely even if you are surrounded by loved ones this weekend. Or, if alone, you may feel that continuing life without this companionship feels unbearable.

Your pain is a testment to the love you shared with your precious friend. While time inevitably sharpens the edges of such pain, we refuse to forget an experience and being who brought such great love to our world. So on this difficult day when pain seems overwhelming, refuse to allow it to dominate all that was good, all that we cherished. Decide to focus on the special moments, the best times, the gifts that this love brought to your life. The love and bond you shared is eternal and while we grieve their physical presence, our hearts tell us that they will never be very far away.

On behalf of every animal who preceded you to Rainbow Bridge, know that as you continue to mourn, they are giving thanks for you, for your love, your loyalty, for all the care, for letting them be all they could be and accepting them deep into your soul.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Susan

Grooty had one chemo treatment with Elspar and began a daily regimen of prednisone. But he was anxious and highly reactive to the medications. So we decided we would go as far as the miraculous Elspar remission would take him along with the daily pred. Grooty gave us three more wonderful months. He swam, ran, clowned, guarded and had an amazing summer. The pred made his hunger constant and we indulged every whim. Family members came from far and wide to spend time with Grooty. His canine brother Seanny, a chocolate lab and his playmate, kept closely by his side. He was thoroughly spoiled while we monitored his every move, sigh, sleep, eating, breath, poops, and energy level. Once we had to add Tramadol to ease his movement and breath, we knew our time with Grooty was nearing an end.

One beautiful autumn morning as he lay out on the deck overlooking the woods, the ponds, the fields and all that had made his life joyful - it became clear that Mog Gruith was now living for us.

So, dear readers, I fed my precious Grooty one last filet mignon and held my sweet boy close as he painlessly exited the magnificent caramel canine form that had betrayed him. Our souls rose together as his spirit was released, but his ascended far above the skies while mine reluctantly returned to the miserable human form still clinging to that golden body.

Without the fantastic support, love and expertise of Ms. Jennifer Grady, Vet Tech extraordinaire, that devastating, sad, happy, confusing time would have been unbearable. Thank you Jen for always being there for me, my family and Grooty.

There are no words for the "to hell and back" cascade of emotions that followed. For the love and honor of living with an animal who so infused my soul, it felt for a while as if his departure had taken me with him. The excruciating reality of his absence was inconsolable during those first days of paralysis and pain. As it should be. We mourn in proportion to what has been lost and his precious life is honored with every futile plea for his return and every tear and memory that plagues each dawn and dusk.

Love of a sentient being requires self-less bravery at many turns, but none more so then facing a final decision one would rather abdicate to fate. The sweet and trusting face before you demands a search of your soul for mercy. A search that insists you drink from the cup that will end your earthly time together in order to free an angelic spirit before it is tarnished with pain, before its innocence is lost to the ravages of a chronic terminal illness.

While cancer claimed Mog Gruith's body, his spirit and soul eluded its evil clutches and he was returned to his Creator, to his universe of love, before its inevitable progression could further darken his days and lengthen his nights.

With all I have written, taught, advised or counseled regarding the loss of companion animals, of one thing I remain sure: the context of continuing treatment or stopping, of prolonging life or choosing a merciful death, must be based on a knowledge of your companion's capacity to tolerate or endure what medicine can offer and what he alone will gain from its ministration.

We must step aside from our own fear of imminent loss, of the heartbreak that will surely follow as we choose the most merciful option for our voiceless best friend. We must demonstrate the loyalty and unconditional love we have been shown by them throughout our all too brief time together at this pivotal moment of their urgent dependence on our self-less wisdom.

Would they not do so for us? Would they not spare us every travail, every sadness, every pain were they able?

For if we based such decisions solely on our technical abilities to prolong life and our animal's willingness to endure for our sake, we might instead protract their suffering and never let go.