[Sharon]

During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors.

Just 12 of these heroic canines survive [as of 2011] and they have been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.

The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.


Moxie, 13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler at the World Trade Center on the evening of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, and searched the site for 8 days


Tara, 16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts, arrived at the World Trade Centre on the night of the 11th. The dog and her handler were there for 8 days


Kaiser, 12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in the rubble

Travelling across nine states in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland, Dutch photographer C. Dumas captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their homes where they still live with their handlers, a full decade on from 9/11.

Noted for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs, Dumas wanted 'Retrieved' to mark not only the anniversary of the September 2001 attacks, but also as recognition for some of the first responders and their dogs.

'I felt this was a turning point, especially for the dogs, who although are not forgotten, are not as prominent as the human stories involved,' explained Dumas who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam.

'They speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective.'


Bretagne and his owner from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days


Bretagne takes a break from work at the 9/11 site with his handler


Guinness, 15, from Highland, California, started work at the site on the morning of September 13

He was deployed at the site for 11 days


Merlyn and his handler were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days

Most of the search and rescue dogs are Labradors or Golden Retrievers and Dumas feels that the title works across many aspects of the story.

'I found the dogs, I retrieved them, they were there to retrieve the victims, it is nicely rounded,' explained Dumas whose work was exhibited at the Julie Saul Gallery NYC.

After working on a project about police canines and other working dogs, she was inspired to concentrate on the animals that played such a huge part in seeking survivors.

Contacting the NYPD, the New York Fire Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Dumas discovered that out of the nearly 100 dogs among the first responders deployed by FEMA, there were in fact only 15 still alive last year.


Red, 11, from Annapolis, Maryland, went with owner to the Pentagon from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines


Abigail the dog and Tuff (below) were deployed on the evening of September 17 at the World Trade Center and then searching for 10 days



Scout and another unknown dog lay among the rubble at Ground Zero, just two of nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search for survivors

'They were there for the first few weeks, they were trained to find people alive, although that is ultimately not what happened,' said Dumas, who will held a fundraiser for the First Responder Alliance at Clic Bookstore in New York.

'I traveled across the United States to meet with the owners and portray the dogs. They are all retired and I spent time with each of their handlers learning about their experiences.

'It was moving talking to Corliss, who is the handler and owner of Bretagne, one of the Golden Retrievers. She told me a touching story of one fireman who was there in the rubble, and how taken he was with Bretagne who comforted him as he sat down to catch his breath'.


Handler and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from their home in Denver on September 24 and searched for five days


Searching for survivors: The dogs worked around the clock in the vain hope of finding anyone still alive at the World Trade Center site

'Years later at a Remembrance Ceremony, the same fireman recognised Bretagne and her handler and they had a touching reunion.

'It developed that even though the dogs couldn't find people still alive, they could provide comfort for the brave firemen and rescue workers of the emergency services.'

Wishing to tell the other side of heroism from 9/11, each of Dumans' encounters with dogs such as Gabriel and Orion and Scout stayed with her.

'The dogs are now old and they will soon pass away. Even during the time it has taken since my first work on the 'Retrieved' portraits to now, three of the final 15 have died,' said Charlotte.

'These portraits are about how time passes, and how these dogs and their portraits are offering us a way to deal with the things that happened as well as relying on them for comfort.'

Various images below

See also
http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...photos-119912/
http://www.documentingreality.com/fo...ic-dogs-88380/

[Drumstickshredder]

Beautiful. Old dogs have such wise eyes, I love them

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Drumstickshredder ↗

Beautiful. Old dogs have such wise eyes, I love them

I see empathy and compassion in their eyes too, no wonder they made such great rescue dogs

[kellyhound]

great way to honour them

[Soar]

Beautiful <3

[chris]

Great post!

[Johnny Wadd]

Bought a tear to my eyes

[sassieroses]

Beautiful ovation for some furry heroes!

[Kerri]

I notice many have their head cocked as if hearing and seeing voices that have gone off the air and faces vanished forever. Spirits if you will. Completely heart-rupturing taps for the best of man's friends. In all seriousness, Gawd, pass the kleenex.

[meade2763]

Originally Posted by Kerri ↗

I notice many have their head cocked as if hearing and seeing voices that have gone off the air and faces vanished forever. Spirits if you will. Completely heart-rupturing taps for the best of man's friends. In all seriousness, Gawd, pass the kleenex.

Or there owner has shoved a fuken camera in there face so they r curious and have head cocked. But really I'm sure it's the spirits and shit.