Bretagne, the Last Remaining Search and Rescue 9/11 Dog, Receives Final Salute

Bretagne, the last surviving search and rescue dog from 9/11, is walked by her handler Denise Corliss, past a flank of members of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department, as she was brought into the Fairfield Animal Hospital, Monday, June 6, 2016, in Cypress, to be euthanized.

It was a very sad day for the men and women of the Cy-Fair Fire Department as they gave their final salute to Bretagne (pronounced "Brittany") who is the last known surviving 9/11 search and rescue dog. She would have turned 17 in August. 

In March 2016 Bretagne was still carrying her bag of treats in her mouth until Denise finally give in and opened it.

In recent weeks she began experiencing kidney failure and was slowing down. When Bretagne failed to do her favorite thing for three consecutive days — eat — her owner Denise Corliss realized it was time to say goodbye.

"She was really anxious last night and she just wanted to be with me," Corliss told TODAY on Monday. "So I laid down with her, right next to her. When she could feel me, she could settle down and go to sleep. I slept with her like that all night." 

Denise Corliss is pictured with Bretagne at Ground Zero in New York City in September 2001. It was their first deployment together.

Even though Bretagnes's suffering ended at 5:00 p.m. today she will forever live in the hearts of those who loved her best. I am heartbroken for her owner tonight and hope she finds comfort in the memories she shared with her.