This is What's Trending Today:
Bretagne worked in rescue efforts in New York City after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Bretagne died on Monday. She was 16 years old.
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
'A dog who truly has been a hero': Last 9/11 Ground Zero search dog passes away https://t.co/zswUFFrDfW https://t.co/GsXfQJWYmk
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 7, 2016
Bretagne was a golden retriever.
She helped to search for survivors and recover human remains from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Over 2,500 people were killed when terrorists flew airplanes into the twin towers.
The World Trade Center was Bretagne's first deployment. She was only two years old at the time.
Denise Corliss was the dog's handler. She cared for Bretagne. They worked together in the area known as Ground Zero for 10 days.
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
The dog also worked at other disasters, including three major hurricanes.
Bretagne retired from active duty at age nine.
According to Texas A&M University, the dog continued working in Texas as an ambassador with the local fire department. She also visited people who were sick, and children in learn-to-read programs. The university oversees a search-and-rescue program.
A member of the team that worked with Bretagne says she took her job seriously, but was always ready to help others, get a belly rub, or have a treat.
On Monday, on her way to see a doctor, Bretagne walked past a group of firefighters and rescue workers who gave her one final salute.
"They saluted Bretagne again as she departed the animal hospital with her body draped in an American flag." Oh feels https://t.co/yTQYWocvJn
— Matt Levin (@mattlevin) June 6, 2016
One news report called her “a four-legged hero.”
And that's What's Trending Today.
I'm Dan Friedell.
Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
How do you feel about Bretagne, the last remaining 9/11 rescue dog? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.
Words in This Story
salute - v. to give a sign of respect by moving one's right hand to the front of your head : to give a salute to (someone or something)
twin towers - n. the tall, side-by-side buildings in downtown New York City that collapsed during a terrorist attack in 2001
belly - n. a person's stomach or the part of the body that contains the stomach
hurricane - n. an extremely large, powerful, and destructive storm with very strong winds that occurs especially in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean
