This was sent to me via email. I just had to share it with my friends here!

An unsung hero of 9/11/01

Last night while sitting in the veterninary office I read the following article in the Muttmatchers Messenger about a hero who didn't make the headlines. It choked me up with that "aren't animals wonderful" feeling, so I am sharing the story with you.

James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He is blind, so he has a Golden Retriever named Daisy.

After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. With tears in his eyes she darted away into the darkened hallway. Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel, and the smoke he was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy comes back along with James' boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112.

On her first run of the building she leads James, his boss, and about 300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn't through yet. She knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James' wishes she ran back into the building.

On her second run, she saved 392 lives.

Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapses. James hears about this and falls on his knees in tears. Against all known odds, Daisy makes it out alive, but this time is carried by a firefighter. "She led us right to the people, before she got injured" the fireman explained. Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives.

The next week, Mayor Guilaini rewarded Daisy with the Canine Medal of Honor of New York. Daisy is the first civilian canine to win such an honor.

WAY TO GO DAISY!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Answers

Wow, amazing story... that is some dog!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

Have seen that story on Fox a couple of times--the dog looks just like any other golden retriever, but obviously she's far superior! She was honored, along with other work dogs participating in the 9/11 aftermath, at a couple of awards dinners. One of them was the NY ASPCA. I think she and her owner were on a Rose Bowl Parade float too.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002

On second thought, I think that was another dog I'm thinking of. Never mind, they're both fabulous dogs!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2002