K-9 Cowboy arrived in New York with his FEMA handler Dave Richards on September 16th, 2001. He joined hundreds of dogs and handler teams and was described as “eerily smart.” His handler sometimes thought Cowboy didn’t realize he was a dog, but “a short person with four legs.” They spent two weeks on the pile at the World Trade Center site. Cowboy used his skills and was spooked on the pile, possibly from an unfamiliar smell after workers removed some debris. Cowboy returned to the pile with help with other workers on the pile, like firefighters, and also the help of a squeaky toy. He finished his shift on September 27th and returned to Utah, continuing his search and rescue career. He even assisted in the search for kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart in 2003.
Image from the American Kennel Club