Search And Rescue Grant Extends Study Of Dogs Deployed On September 11, 2001

American Kennel Club ^ | Thursday, October 14, 2004 | AKC

[Calpernia]

New York, NY – The AKC Companion Animal Recovery and AKC Canine Health Foundation have approved funding that will allow Cynthia Otto, DVM, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania to continue to study the health of the dogs deployed to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon following the terrorist attacks in September 2001.

The new two-year grant, effective January 1, 2005, from the AKC Companion Animal Recovery Search and Rescue Fund as well as a matching donation from the AKC Canine Health Foundation (totaling $76,245), will allow for continued observation of the dogs in an effort to evaluate the long-term health effects throughout their natural life span.

“We are pleased to contribute to this ongoing study,” said Dennis B. Sprung, President of AKC and a member of the Companion Animal Recovery Board of Directors. “It is our hope that it will result in the possible prevention of negative effects in dogs who are used in future search and rescue efforts as well as offer a potential understanding of how human health may be impacted in these situations.

AKC, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and AKC Canine Health Foundation, offered a three-year grant in January 2002 in the amount of $379,546 for the study – Assessment of Injuries, Environmental Toxins and Anthrax Exposure in NYPD Search and Rescue and Bomb Detection Canines During World Trade Center Relief Efforts – to evaluate the effect of deployment on rate and onset of cancer in hundreds of dogs that participated in the search mission.

"Working together, the AKC, AKC Companion Animal Recovery and AKC Canine Health Foundation have supported this critical study from the start and it has important ramifications for both dogs and humans," said John Studebaker, President, AKC Canine Health Foundation.

The intensive monitoring includes blood work and chest radiographs. Behavior and activity information will be collected at each time period for the dogs and the medical and behavior changes in the dogs will be compared to control dogs to determine the lasting effects of this disaster and its response.

[Calpernia]

In honor of our Search and Rescue K9s

Please click

In Loving Memory of K-9 "SIRIUS" Badge # 17 WTC - LODD September 11, 2001

"I will always love my partner. He helped me search trucks entering the WTC for Explosives. I left him in his kennel to help rescue people in Tower #1. He may be a dog to most, but he was a 'friend' to me." ~David W. Lim

Bear, an eleven-year old Golden Retriever born on November 1, 1989, was the first dog to arrive on the scene and get straight to work in the midst of the disaster at the World Trade Center during the morning hours of September 11, 2001. A veteran member of the canine search-and-rescue team, Bear and his owner/handler, Captain Scott Shields (Director of Marine Safety for the New York City Urban Parks Service), spent the early days following the tragedy sifting through the tons of debris at Ground Zero. Bear's instincts for knowing where to search were seldom, if ever, wrong.

To those of us who never had the opportunity or good fortune to scratch behind your ears or be blessed with a friendly lick upon the hand, you became a golden beacon of hope in those dark days following September 11, 2001. You were a symbol of untiring dedication and optimism...a "poster dog" representative of all the courageous canines. Indeed, the images of you walking through the rubble, carrying your beloved owner's helmet in your mouth, is said to have brought a smile to the weary rescue teams who, as the days went past, found there was less and less to smile about. You are sorely missed by those who loved you, Bear.

You always will be.

You were a good dog.

[Calpernia]

Never forget the living.

http://www.newyorkcitycommunity.com/WTC.htm

[Calpernia]

ping

[Blowtorch]

Man's best friend.

[Outraged]

Hate to be a wet blanket, but are these monies seeing their intended target?...or are some scumbag liberals using the cause as a front for some other nefarious slush fund?

[Heff]

I love Goldens...I've had 6 Golden family members and cried like a baby every time one passed on. I never say that I "owned" a Golden...they owned me.

Here's a little factoid I heard in the days after 9/11...I heard the rescue dogs were so depressed because they weren't finding anyone alive that they actually had some people hide in the ruins so the dogs could find them, which would change their mood. Interesting, eh?

[Two Dawgs]

I am sitting here crying my eyes out...these brave animals were just as much a part of 9/11 as any human being. God Bless America!

[HairOfTheDog]

This seems to be a lot to spend on a study, it seems all the animals would be receiving regular veterinary care ~anyway~ and their handlers would be more than happy to voluntarily report to someone any apparent side effects of their service without $370,000 having to be spent already, and another $70,000 now to continue. Why is it we always have to make everything very complicated and expensive?

Nevertheless, the dogs deserve the best for who they are and what they do. I hope they get the lessons learned by the people receiving these checks.

TO HONOR YOUR PARTNER - POEMS FOR WORKING DOGS

Ping!

[Two Dawgs]

I heard the same story as you about hiding people in the ruins...btw I have two goldens...two boys...Clancy and Oliver

Two Dawgs

[Calpernia]

I do know there is much controversy going on between breeders and the AKC. I really hope this money is going to the cause and not the Board of Directors pockets.

[Calpernia]

me too

[Calpernia]

These pooches served and deserve a ping

[Heff]

They are the best. I have a female we are trying to mate and she is nearing her heat...are you near NJ? I am looking for stocky male on the short side...she's tall especially for a female.

I had to put my male down two years ago...Max...I stayed in the car with the kids and cried, while my wife stayed with Max as they put him to sleep. I was so sad that I said I would never get another dog. Its too painful when they leave us!! That lasted about month, then we got Dolly. She's great, but very attached to my wife...she cries by the door when she leaves, and literally has to lay on top of my wife until my wife falls asleep, then she goes in her own bed. And she is quiet the beggar!

[HairOfTheDog]

Here's a little factoid I heard in the days after 9/11...I heard the rescue dogs were so depressed because they weren't finding anyone alive that they actually had some people hide in the ruins so the dogs could find them, which would change their mood. Interesting, eh?

It's vital the dogs get some payoff for their efforts, they can't stay on task indefinately without reward. I think this is often done when searches aren't looking successful, maybe even a few times in a day.

On a similar vein, I know a guy who went hunting with his young labrador, who worked and worked a field and kept flushing only hen pheasants. After he found and flushed several of these hens, the dog would turn around and give an obvious "WTF?" look to his owner after yet another bird flew off with no shot fired. Hunter finally shot one hen pheasant so the dog could finish his work, do a retrieve, and they could go home. You can ruin a working dog if they never get to see what the process is all about. I can't recommend poaching... but I understand why he did it.

[Joe 6-pack]

Some great 9/11 dog pics and news can be found here.

[Heff]

I've taught my dog all kinds of useless tricks, which my wife hates me for...but Dolly loves it. She now does all the tricks without being asked because she knows that I will get up and get her a treat....so, I guess my dog has me trained!

Here are some stupid tricks:

1) I shoot her with my finger and say bang, and she rollsover "dead" on the floor

2) She will crawl on command.

3) fetches the phone on command.

4) trying to teach her to find the TV remote..hasn't been easy.

[Two Dawgs]

No I live in Maryland and "da boys" (age six and three months apart in age) would NOT BE OF ANY HELP...if ya know what I mean! My Mac died in my arms in the back of the car...I use to close my retail store and drive him to the University of Penn for chemo then I decided to get "da dawgs" because "things" had to be different in my house...AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT!

[HairOfTheDog]

In our house, the trouble would be 'which' remote. ;~D

Good job... learning those tricks has been a pleasure for your dog.

[TXBubba]

Is this deployed or depoyed? Just trying to get my FR lingo correct.

[Calpernia]

Some great pictures. Thank you for the link.