Remembering 9/11

We remember, and we pray for families everywhere whose lives are touched by events like what happened on that fateful day. 

***

Remembering, and Hoping for a Better Tomorrow

This has been a notable week for those of us in our town. Two events, one yesterday and one on Tuesday, cause us to realize the fight against terrorism is still very real. They may not be as dramatic as what we all witnessed on this date in 2001, but for those of us in the Midwest, these events resonate profoundly.

On September 8, a ruling was handed down regarding a white supremacist who brutally attacked and murdered two people at our Community Center, mere blocks from our home. Our Community Center is a wonderful place, a place we frequent, and we were there just days before.

He was sentenced to death for hate crimes and terrorist acts against a race of people he wishes exterminated. Sadly, his response was one of satisfaction. He wishes to become a "martyr for the cause."

The second event occurred just yesterday when the FBI arrested a man in Florida planning a terrorist attack for today, in our hometown, at an event to raise funds for the people of 9/11. We are thankful he was caught, but are reminded for the need to stay aware of an enemy no one has ever courted and for whom we wish no harm.

And so, especially on this day, this year, we remember.

We remember, we mourn, and we pray for a day when this kind of vigilance is no longer needed.

***

Remembering - and Looking Ahead

Even now, 13 years later, it's difficult to forget the many lives lost, the many sacrifices made, and the many acts of heroism witnessed on that September day in 2001.

Those acts included numerous rescue dogs, and dogs in service to our country. Courageous canines still soldier on, all over the world, working side by side with their human counterparts.

Today, we honor and remember them: the ones currently serving, the ones lost to us, and the ones raised to be the next generation - learning to follow in the paw-steps of those who have gone before.

Aircraftwoman Wilcock with Military Working Puppy Cajun, the next generation of canine heroes.
Photo: Lisa on Flickr

And it's nice to see that, even for them, it's not all work and no play.

It would appear that even military dogs appreciate a good Kong! Photo: Public Domain - from www.defense.gov

May they have far more opportunities to play than be called to work as the years pass, and may they never have to experience what their predecessors did on that fateful day, 13 years ago.

***

Remembering 9/11 and therapy dogs

Last year on 9/11 we praised the work of the rescue dogs who worked tirelessly among firefighters and police to help find the missing and the deceased.

This year, we’d like to remember the work of therapy dogs both during that time and in the months and years after 9/11.

Therapy dog at Walter Reed

The New York Daily News reported that “381 therapy dogs and their handlers…worked seemingly endless days at Pier 94 and consoled brigades of police officers, firefighters and workers at Ground Zero.

Their tireless work after 9/11 helped raise the bar on their therapeutic roles, opening a whole new realm of opportunities to comfort people affected by disaster.”

To all the therapy dogs and their handlers who made such heartbreaking work more tolerable...thank you.

'Toon Tuesdays will return next week.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: 9/11 Dog Rescue Tribute

In the aftermath of 9/11 almost 100 Search and Rescue dogs spent day after day tirelessly combing Ground Zero for survivors. 


Ten years later, just 12 of these heroic canines are still alive. They have been commemorated through the talents of Dutch photographer Charlotte Dumas, and their stories are told in a book entitled "Retrieved."

If you're in New York City, you can see these stunning photographs, currently on exhibit at the Julie Saul Gallery, and at the Clic Gallery in NYC on September 29. 

For more information on these touching portraits, and the stories behind them, visit http://retrievedbycharlottedumas.tumblr.com/#8187650156

An Unusual 9/11 Tribute

Mommy found this article about a dog from Halifax, Nova Scotia who went to New York City after the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center and we thought we'd blog about it since tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the awful terrorist attack. 

His name was Trakr, and he was with an elite K9 Police Search and Rescue Unit. Trakr is famous because he located the last human survivor at Ground Zero. Time Magazine even named him one of history’s most heroic animals because of that!  Here's a picture of him after 9/11:

His human partner is famous, too. James Symington was one of the founders of the canine unit for the Halifax Regional Police, and we give him a HUGE highpaw for forcing senior officials to change their policy of euthanizing K-9 "officers" when they retired. (Can you believe that police department would have such a cruel policy? We pee on Halifax for that one! Why, they were even gonna euthanize Trakr - and he's a War Hero!)

Trakr and his partner retired and moved to California, where Trakr lived to be 16 years old. (He died in 2009 and we're sure Mr. Symington is sad and misses him tons.) 

Trakr made the news even after his 9/11 rescue, when he won a contest naming him the World's Most Cloneworthy Dog. (hmm, Mommy says she's not sure of that whole cloning thing, since there are so many animals in shelters waiting for their forever homes. What do you think?)

Regardless, Trakr was cloned and his 5 'siblings' were delivered to Mr. Symington on June, 2008:  Trustt, Solace, Valor, Prodigy and DejaVu. 

We do give a full round of appawse to Mr. Symington on what he did next though. These 5 Trakr clones now make up Team Trakr, an international canine Search and Rescue organization dedicated to continuing the legacy Trakr left behind.