Remembering Our Four-Legged Heroes 🇺🇸🐾 Today, on the anniversary of September 11th, we honor the lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger, and the incredible K-9 heroes who offered hope amid tragedy. On that fateful day, over 300 search-and-rescue dogs raced through rubble to find survivors, comfort responders, and help bring healing to our wounded nation. Every year, we stop to remember these brave dogs and their handlers who worked hour after hour, searching, rescuing, and comforting. One often overlooked hero was Jake, a black Labrador Retriever who’d once been a stray with a broken leg and dislocated hip. After surgery left one leg two inches shorter then the other, Jake defied the odds, becoming wilderness-search and FEMA-certified by 1997. Alongside his handler, Mary Flood, he worked 17 tireless days at Ground Zero. Although Jake trained for live rescue, he focused on recovery, dedicating numerous trips to finding remains of those lost in the rubble. Reports say Jake offered a sense of normalcy amid chaos, his relentless upbeat energy and playfulness provided emotional comfort, relief, and motivation to other rescue workers. Mary later trained Jake to become one of less than 200 U.S. certified rescue dogs (an animal on 24hr call to tackle disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes and avalanches.) Jake and Mary also served during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in 2005. Mary says he was always ready to work. Heartbreakingly, Jake passed from cancer in 2007, potentially from exposure to the toxic air at the World Trade Center. He was 12 years old. Jake enjoyed a final stroll through the fields and a dip in the creek near his home in Utah, with Mary before being laid to rest. Thank you, Mary and Jake for your extraordinary work, we honor your memory. Today, we pause for: ❤️ The loved ones we lost. 🚒 The first responders who entered the fray without hesitation. 🐾 The K-9 heroes like Jake, and so many others, who showed us what loyalty and courage truly mean. May these stories of bravery and love continue to inspire us. To every handler and pup who served, and to search and rescue dogs everywhere — thank you. We will never forget. 🇺🇸