The last dog to take part in search-and-rescue operations following the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Centre is being honoured in Meaford.
The Beautiful Joe Heritage Society will be holding a commemoration ceremony this Sunday afternoon at 2pm at Beautiful Joe Park.
The 16-year-old golden retriever named Bretange died in June in Texas. She was one of 300 specially-trained dogs to search the ruins of the Twin Towers for survivors. She also took part in many other search-and-rescue operations over the years, including in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ivan.
After Bretagne retired from search-and-rescue work, her owner, Denise Corliss, would take her to a nearby school where she befriended children and helped them learn to read.
In her final months, Bretagne began to suffer from kidney failure. When she stopped eating, Corliss knew it was time to say goodbye. As Corliss drove the dog to the veterinary hospital for the final time, firefighters from the Cy-Fair Department in Harris County, Texas lined the route and saluted the dog.
