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Last-known living 9/11 search dog dies in Texas at age 16

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The last-known living 9/11 search dog has died in a Houston suburb at age 16.

A statement from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service says Bretagne (BRIHT’-nee), a Golden Retriever, was euthanized Monday at a veterinary clinic in the Houston suburb of Cypress.

Bretagne was 2 years old when she and her handler, Denise Corliss, were part of the Texas Task Force 1 sent to the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan after the terrorist attack brought down the buildings on Sept. 11, 2001. They spent 10 days at the scene searching rubble for human remains.

K9 Search Specialist Denise Corliss and her search dog Bretagne in Houston, Texas on Sept. 11, 2002.
K9 Search Specialist Denise Corliss and her search dog Bretagne in Houston, Texas on Sept. 11, 2002.

Bretagne retired from active duty at age 9. At 15, she was taken by Corliss to the 9/11 memorial and participated in an interview with Tom Brokaw of NBC News.

Associated Press