A life of service honored
By Gina Spadafori
April 11, 2007
My brother the firefighter tipped me to a piece I missed last week, about a funeral for Dusty, a retired search and rescue dog for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Dusty was 12, and she had among other things been on the scene of World Trade Center after 9/11. Story and pictures here (tissue alert).
Good girl, Dusty.
Poor Dusty hit by a car through an open gate. We try our very best and then accidents happen.
My front yard is fenced with a high redwood gate and I was watering the yard late one night 11:30 pm, tired from all this blogging and sad stories, and I forgot to close my front (two) gates believe it or not.
4:00 am still dark, I let my two big Dobermans out front to do their thing and guess what? They both ran out the open front gate and onto, a not too busy street that early but can be, and off they went. Me in PJ’s and barefoot run after and catch up to one who stopped to Pee but the female was already one block away and heading for freedom. I almost had the male but he broke lose and I screamed NO! He ran back across the street to home and I suppose the female looked around and couldn’t see mama, as I was securing male, She returned home too in a flash. It was all very frightful.
To Dusty’s mama and daddy:I’m sorry for your loss of sweet Dusty. Service dogs are so valuable but besides that, I’m sure he was loved. Accidents just happen even when we do our very best.
Linda MS
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Sorry Dusty - you are a she. I know you are greatly missed.
I can’t say anything else really as I just know the hours of dedication and love that went into her training - to be a service dog of her caliber, she had to have a courageous valiant soul - and she leaves a gaint hole with her passing.
Linda MS.
Comment by Linda — April 11, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
Being from the Northeast, and having friends who lost their lives as firefighters answering the call, friends who brought their SARS dogs and therapy dogs to the World Trade Center to ease the pain of others, Dusty you answered the “call” and will not be forgotten. I believe at the Rainbow Bridge there is a special place for animal heros,you are one of them and you will not be forgotten.
Katie
If anyone gets a chance, the book by Nona Bauer,”Dog Heroes of September 11th” ( and I know many kitties who provided therapy to rescue workers also)is a wonderful testament to our furry companions.
Comment by Katie — April 11, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
What a sad end to a valiant life. Poor Dusty. My heart goes out to her family. It’s amazing how fast the “Great Escape” can happen.
If there’s anyone here who hasn’t had to chase a hellbent canine toward a busy street at one time or another, please tell me your secret. As the owner of a track-star terrier, I’d sure appreciate it. :)
I second Katie’s message. There really is a special place for heroes who aren’t looking for 15 minutes of fame, or a book deal - just a pat on the head and maybe a chunk of cheese.
I can still remember, in the grim days after 9-11, taking up a collection at our pet-loving office to go buy up every dog bootie in the midwest to send to NY after HSUS reported that NY had run out, and the SARS dogs’ feet were getting burned. The response was amazing - all my coworkers were in shell shock from the event itself, but they were galvanized by the idea of being able to do something - even the smallest thing - for the rescue dogs.
I’ll be sure to check for that book, Katie.
Comment by Laura — April 11, 2007 @ 10:18 pm