CYPRESS, Texas – Monday was a sad day for the men and women with the Cy-Fair Fire Department as they said their final goodbyes to Bretagne (pronounced "Brittany"), the last known surviving search and rescue dog who worked at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Bretagne would have turned 17 in August, but the golden retriever's health had been declining recently and Monday her handlers took her to the vet's office to be put down.
She was given a hero's salute as she made the walk into the office for the last time.
[VIDEO: Watch the video of Bretagne's final walk]
A very sad day for the men & women with the Cy Fair FD. Today they said good bye to Bretagne (pronounced "Brittany") she's the last known surviving 9/11 search and rescue dog. She would have turned 17 in Aug. This video shows her walking into the vet's office one last time - getting a hero's salute. She was put down at 5pm. STORY-->http://bit.ly/1XB5dhM
Posted by Jennifer Bauer on Monday, June 6, 2016
Bretagne joined the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department's Search and Rescue team in 2000. She had been deployed to several disasters over the years, including to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
After her retirement many years ago, she spent her time visiting with children at local elementary schools.
Bretagne's body was escorted to College Station, where a necropsy will be performed. Then she will be laid to rest in the Houston area.
The last living 9/11 rescue dog has passed away. Texas & America are forever grateful for Bretagne's servicehttps://t.co/w8uFJDiMuk
— Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) June 7, 2016
16 y.o. retired @fema Texas TF1 #K9 "Bretagne", the last surviving Ground Zero Search & Rescue dog, has passed #RIP pic.twitter.com/E7CgLW4WBm
— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) June 7, 2016
It is with heavy hearts we say goodbye to the last surviving 9/11 search dog, Bretagne. You will be missed. https://t.co/RxOoLuzgGW
— FEMA (@fema) June 7, 2016