Blake Wallis / Barcroft USAAn American hero got the birthday party she so greatly deserved, thanks to the city of New York.
Bretagne, the last known surviving search and rescue dog who worked ground zero on Sept. 11 and during the aftermath, is turning 16 very soon. BarkPost and 1 Hotel Central Park knew she deserved a special celebration, so they flew Bretagne and her handler Denise Corless from Texas Task Force 1 to NYC to honor the duo.
The devastating attacks on 9/11 were their first mission together, and Corless says that she and Bretagne now have a bond that will never be broken.
For her special day in the city, Bretagne was greeted at the airport in style:
Then she checked into her doggy suite at 1 Hotel Central Park:
And got room service:
Then it was off to Times Square to see a special billboard dedicate to Bretagne:
She also got to frolic in the water (her favorite) at Hudson River Park:
Where she was presented with a special bone:
Finally, she was taken to her birthday party at the hotel:
Where she received tons of presents:
And a cake!
1 Hotel Central Park also donated $1,000 to Texas Task Force 1 so they could continue to train search and rescue dogs just like Bretagne.
Bretagne and Denise worked many other disasters sites together since 9/11, including Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ivan. Bretagne retired from work when she was 9, but she now visits schools to help first-graders and special needs children learn how to read aloud.
Thank you to Bretagne and to all the rescue workers who came to aid the victims of the devastating attacks on 9/11. You are true American heroes.