A True Dog Story

A True Dog Story

Courtesy of John Ward

James Crane worked on the 101st floor of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center. He was blind so he had a golden retriever seeing-eye dog named Daisy. After the plane hit 20 stories below, James knew that he was doomed, so he let Daisy go, out of an act of love. She darted away into the darkened hallway.

Choking on the fumes of the jet fuel and the smoke James was just waiting to die. About 30 minutes later, Daisy came back along with James’ boss, who Daisy just happened to pick up on floor 112.

On her first run of the building, she led James, James’ boss, and about 300 more people out of the doomed building. But she wasn’t through yet, she knew there were others who were trapped. So, highly against James’ wishes she ran back in the building.

On her second run, she saved 392 lives. Again she went back in. During this run, the building collapsed. James heard about this and fell on his knees in tears.

Against all known odds, Daisy made it out alive, but this time she was carried by a firefighter. “She led us right to the people, before she got injured,” the fireman explained.

Her final run saved another 273 lives. She suffered acute smoke inhalation, severe burns on all four paws, and a broken leg, but she saved 967 lives.

Daisy was the first civilian Canine to win the Medal of Honor of New York City.