Not everyone can leave this earth known as a hero, let alone many animals, but for one very special dog his legend will live on for many years to come. I don't usually find myself getting teary eyed when I come across daily news stories, but on a cloudy summer afternoon I came across this one and I thought I'd share it with you.
His name was
Jake, a black Labrador who, according to the article, was abandoned on the street as a 10-month old disabled puppy who had a broken leg and dislocated hip. He was adopted by a lady named Mary Flood and was to become a hero in one of the worst disasters in American History.
Flood trained Jake to become a certified rescue dog and he became one out of 200 government certified rescue dogs here in the U.S for the Utah Task Force 1. Jake was trained to tackle disasters around the clock. Anything from building collapses, to earthquakes, hurricanes and avalanches in search for human lives. According to the article, Jake was one of eight federal search-and-rescue teams that searched through ground zero that quiet, haunting day.
He dug through white-hot, smoking debris looking for any survivors that day. Later, he also helped after Hurricane Katrina searching through flooded homes and deep waters.
In addition, Jake also did therapy work at the Utah camp for burned children, as well as at senior citizens homes and hospitals. He had this cheery feel about him - the soothing feel of a dog...of a friend.
Jake also trained other young puppies to become search-and-rescue dogs by showing them how to track scents in any weather condition.
He fell sick with cancer and battled it for many years. No one is for sure if he got sick due to being around the smoky, thick air that loomed over ground zero those few days. Other rescue dog owners however, also claim their dogs have become sick and died after working at the site. But scientists don't have any evidence at this point, according to the article, to prove the animals got sick because of the 9/11 rubble and debris. Scientists have done years of research studying sickness in animals after the Sept. 11 and at this point have found really no illness that is connected to it.
Jakes body will be donated to the University of Pennsylvania medical study of September 11 th search-and-rescue dogs where he will have an autopsy done. Jake and other 9/11 dogs that are being researched will serve as an opening into the future of long-term health effects that may become apparent down the road.
The day Jake died he was suffering with a 105-degree fever, tremendous pain and was shaking with sickness. Jake was put to sleep on Wednesday July 25, 2007 after a loosing his battle with Cancer.
According to the article, the morning Jake was put down he romped one last time in the cool creek waters where he grew up, hiked a final lap through his training areas, and took one last stroll in the thick grassy fields of his home in Utah.
To me, Jake is not only a hero, but also a legend we should never forget. We need tell our children of his heroism, and their children for many years to come. He is a symbol of courage that even we as humans don't always have when hard times come without warning. Jake did more in this life than most people have, seen and heard things others never will even get close to experiencing while on this Earth. As I stare at his picture online next to the article, I am saddened - for America has truly lost one of man's most remarkable best friends.