Hero 9/11 Dog Still Hard At Work

Many of our September 11th heros are still saving lives, and one of the furriest is still working hard to lend a helping paw.

15-year-old golden retriever Bretagne is one of the last known surviving search dogs from the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

Bretange returned to Ground Zero for the first time since the attacks with her handler and owner Denise Corliss and NBC's Tom Brokaw.

Back in 1999, Corliss brought Bretagne home at 8 weeks old and committed to spending 20-30 hours a week in training. At a year old, the pup qualified to be part of the Texas Task Force as a search and rescue dog.

Their first assignment came on September 11th 2001 and took them far from the Lone Star State. For two weeks, 12 hours a day Bretange and Corliss worked tirelessly recovering those lost in the attacks and providing comfort to police and firefighters on the scene.

Bretange's been hard at work since her first assignment searching major disaster sites across the country like New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Even at 15 years old she's helping special needs students in elementary school. Corliss even installed an exercise pool for the Golden to keep fit in her Golden years.

Bretagne and Corliss are gearing up to rub elbows (and paws) with the rich and famous in Beverly Hills.

At the end of the month, the golden retriever will walk the red carpet at the American Humane Association's top Hero Dog awards.

She's one of eight finalists, and you can vote for one of those incredible dogs until September 15th.

More to see:
On 9/11, this fighter pilot was sent on a kamikaze mission to possibly kill her father
9/11 commemoration begins with bell toll
Photos: A portrait of the 9/11 rescue workers
World Trade Center complex on way to completion