9/11 Rescue Dog Celebrates Sweet 16 in New York City

Bretagne, believed to be the only surviving 9/11 rescue dog, recently celebrated her 16th birthday in New York City.

BarkPost helped sponsor her party, including transportation to the Big Apple from Texas with her caretaker Denise Corliss. The duo stayed at 1 Hotel in a suite that overlooks Central Park. The heroine received a “dog-friendly” cake from Bubba Rose Biscuit Company and District Dog, a gourmet cheeseburger, and a ton of new toys.

“After hearing Bretagne’s story and learning that her 16th birthday was coming up, there was no question in our minds that she deserved a Dog’s Best Day for the ages,” wrote BarkPost Video creative producer Laura Hartle.

Then Hudson River Parks presented her with a “Key to the City” for her bravery following the terrorist attack. The city placed a picture of Bretagne on a billboard in Times Square while they both received “a cobblestone at the 9/11 Museum.”

Bretagne was two years old when she helped first responders search for victims after terrorists flew two planes into the World Trade Center. She worked 12-hour shifts for over two weeks. It was a huge task for her very first rescue operation.

“When our task force arrived in Ground Zero, I just couldn’t believe the magnitude,” Corliss explained to WABC. “And I looked down at her, and she seemed stoic and ready to work.”

The best part of the day was probably when the city reunited her “with Texas Task Force 1, the same canine crew she was dispatched with back in 2001.”

“It was really surprising and very touching to see how many people were involved and excited about her coming back to New York,” Corliss told The Today Show, adding:

Of course, it’s not just about Bretagne. It’s about the love and support that New York showed for those who responded to 9/11. She’s kind of a symbol of that.

People we met on this trip were very emotional and very nice to us. People were hugging her, and some were crying.