One of New York City’s top, four-legged heroes has returned.
Bretagne, the last known surviving 9/11 rescue dog who tirelessly helped sniff through Ground Zero for human life, recently returned ahead of Friday’s 14th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Her visit also came ahead of her 16th birthday.
The white-faced golden retriever was flown up from Texas with her hero handler and owner Denise Corliss as guests of honor thanks to website BarkPost and mission-driven luxury hotel, 1 Hotel Central Park.
“Responding to New York City was our first deployment,” Carliss, of national disaster group Texas Task Force 1, told BarkPost of their mission to provide relief to the first wave of 9/11 responders.
Bretagne was just 2 years old at the time and as Carliss recalled, her playful-puppy demeanor paid off.
Upon first catching sight of the immense destruction, Carliss said she was momentarily stunned. Her trusty companion on the other hand, couldn’t wait to dive in.
“I just couldn’t believe the magnitude and then I looked down at her and she seemed stoked and ready to work,” Carliss recalled.
As their relentless, 12-hour days went on, she said their work went from search and rescue to recovery efforts.
Throughout the physical and emotional turmoil, Bretagne often took it upon herself to serve as a comfort to firefighters and first responders. With a nudge of her snout she’s credited with breaking the strongest stone faces.
That included Corliss’.
“I was just so grateful to have a canine partner that helped me get through it,” she recalled.
Being treated as the heroes that they both are was the first priority with their arrival.
The couple was picked up from LaGuardia Airport and shuttled into Manhattan where Bretagne was presented with her very own hamburger and other tasty treats at their hotel.
After being picked up in a vintage taxi cab, they made a stop in Times Square where tears were shed once they caught sight of one of the billboards.
“NYC Welcomes You And Your Mom,” one read while showing a photo of the couple together.
Along the Hudson River, the dynamic duo was presented with a Tiffany “bone to the dog park.”
Once back at the hotel — with Bretagne wearing a cardboard cone hat — they were welcomed to a room full of toys and treats, a canine-friendly birthday cake and a $1,000 donation from the hotel to the Texas Task Force.
The money will go toward training other dogs like Bretagne.
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