- Jake (rescue dog)
Jake (1995 –
July 25 ,2007 ) was a well known Americanblack labrador who served as asearch and rescue dog following theSeptember 11 attacks andHurricane Katrina . Jake served as a rescue dog from 1997 until his retirement because of cancer in 2006. cite news |first=Nick|last=Glagola |title= Jake, the Rescue Dog: An Impressive Life |url= http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12301482 |work=NPR |publisher=NPR |date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2007-08-01]Early life
Jake was adopted when he was 10 months old by his owner, Mary Flood. cite news |first=Verena|last=Dobnik|title= Dog who searched for survivors after 9/11, Katrina, has died
url= http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--attacks-rescuedog0725jul25,0,2120317.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork|work=The Associated Press |publisher=Newsday |date=2007-07-25 |accessdate=2007-08-01 ] Jake had been found abandoned on the streets with several injuries, including adislocated hip and a broken leg.Career
Jake's new owner, Mary Flood, is a member of Utah Task Force 1. cite news |first=Verena|last=Dobnik|title= Dog that helped in aftermath of 9/11, Katrina succumbs to cancer: Autopsy to be part of university study
url= http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/NEWS07/707270414/1009|work=The Associated Press |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2007-08-01] Utah Task Force 1 is a federalsearch and rescue team trained to respond todisasters . Following his recovery from his injuries, Flood helped to train Jake to become a federal "U.S. government certified" rescue dog. cite news |first=|last=|title= Abandoned puppy who became 9/11 rescue dog dies of cancer |url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/26/attacks.rescue.dog.ap/ |work=The Associated Press |publisher=CNN |date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2007-08-01] There are fewer than 200 of these dogs, who are trained to respond within 24 hours to disasters such ashurricanes ,earthquakes ,wilderness , water rescue,terrorist attacks , oravalanches . Jake's owner later commented, "..."against all odds he became a world-class rescue dog"." cite news |first=Verena|last=Dobnik|title= Sept. 11 Rescue Dog Dies of Cancer |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6806721,00.html |work=The Associated Press |publisher=The Guardian |date=2007-07-26 |accessdate=2007-08-01]Jake was most noted for his work following the
September 11 attacks , where he helped search for human remains atGround Zero . Jake, like other rescue workers and dogs, was honored by New Yorkers as a hero. Jake, wearing his search and rescue vest, was treated to a free steak dinner at an upscaleManhattan restaurant on the evening he arrived to work inNew York City . Jake served as a rescue dog at theWorld Trade Center site for 17 days. Like the humans and other rescue dogs he worked with, Jake was exposed to the physical hazards of Ground Zero, including sharp debris and suspected unhealthy air.Jake also served in his search and rescue team following
Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jake, along with his Utah Task Force, drove over 30 hours fromUtah toMississippi to help search for survivors and victims of following the hurricane's landfall. Jake was also deployed to theGulf Coast in the aftermath ofHurricane Rita . In his later years, Jake helped to train younger prospective rescue dogs, as well as their handlers. Jake helped other dogs to learn to trackscent s in difficult places and terrain, including under the snow and even up trees. Jake also worked as atherapy dog at Utahnursing homes and at a camp for burn victims.Death and legacy
Jake had been diagnosed with
hemangiosarcoma , a blood borne cancer.He waseuthanized on Wednesday,July 25 ,2007 , after he was found on his frontlawn shaking from a 105 degreefever . His owner reportedly took him for one last walk through the fields and creeks ofOakley, Utah , before his death. Jake was 12 years old when he died.It is unknown whether Jake's cancer can be linked to his rescue work at
Ground Zero . Cancer is a very commondisease fordog s around Jake's age. Some rescue dog owners have claimed that their dogs have died because of their exposure to the air at theWorld Trade Center site in the aftermath of9/11 . However, scientists who have studied the health of rescue animals who worked Ground Zero have found no major signs of illness. In contrast, a recent study of 20,000 human rescue workers, such asfirefighter s, has found that 70% of these workers suffer fromrespiratory illnesses.Cynthia Otto, who works for the
University of Pennsylvania 's School of Veterinary Medicine, is currently conducting a study of the health of September 11 rescue dogs. The results of Jake'snecropsy will be used as part of the Penn medical study.It is believed that illnesses diagnosed in Jake and other rescue animals may serve as
harbinger s for possible long term problems in 9/11 rescue workers, both human and animal.References
External links
* [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--attacks-rescuedog0725jul25,0,2120317.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork Newsday: Dog who searched for survivors after 9/11, Katrina, has died]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6806721,00.html The Guardian: Sept. 11 Rescue Dog Dies of Cancer]
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