Fire Dept. Bids Farewell to Last Known 9/11 Search Dog

A 16-year-old golden retriever and the last known surviving dog that responded to ground zero during search and rescue efforts was put to rest Monday.

Bretagne, a retired fire department canine and FEMA search dog, received a final salute before being euthanized at a Houston-area veterinarian's office.

During her career, she responded to disasters all over the country, including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. Bretagne was the oldest known surviving dog of a group of canines that responded on 9/11, according to the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, where the golden retriever was the K-9 partner of Capt. Denise Corliss for many years. 

Corliss and Bretagne were deployed to ground zero by the Texas Task Force 1. Around 300 dogs took part in the search efforts, according to the Houston Chronicle.

After her retirement at age 10, Bretagne volunteered in her community and aided in training for other search dogs.

"Bretagne was a civil servant, a hero and is family. We will remember her fondly, and continue serving the community with her as inspiration," the fire department said in a statement.

Bretagne and Corliss both visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in 2014. A cobblestone on the memorial was previously dedicated in their names.  

By 9/11 Memorial Staff