Did you know that every puppy in the Transportation Safety Administration's explosives detection program is named for a victim of 9-11? The dogs are born at Lackland Air Force Base, then fostered for their first 14 months by local families.
This is Zucker, who is being fostered by the Dunkle family of Austin:
She's named for Andrew Steven Zucker, a lawyer killed in the second tower while helping clerks evacuate from the mailroom. The Dunkles call her 'Zookie.' Andrew's family is pleased about his namesake:
"That was a nickname my brother went under. It really touched home," said Stuart Zucker, Andrew's brother.
Andrew Zucker's relatives didn't know about the government's program to train explosive detection dogs or to name them after Sept. 11 victims.
After getting Zookie, Brian Dunkle posted a message about the dog on a Web-based memorial site for Andrew Zucker. Stuart Zucker, a financial analyst in New York, saw the message and e-mailed the Dunkles.
"It was a total shock. A good shock," Stuart Zucker said. "To think my brother would be memorialized by a rescue dog is just unbelievable, because he was a rescuer and a hero himself."
Members of the Zucker family use photos of Zookie as screen savers on their computers.
"I'd like to meet that dog someday," Stuart Zucker said.
The Explosives Detection Canine Team Program, of which these dogs are members, came into being by order of President Nixon on March 9, 1972 -- the day that K9 Brandy found a bomb inside a bathroom wall on a TWA flight 12 minutes before it was set to explode.
Posted by floridacracker at December 12, 2005 03:46 PMMy god, that's wonderful.
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at December 12, 2005 07:58 PMI sat here making myself cry several hours this afternoon working on it. It's a lovely tribute they made to these people, and they never said a word.
Posted by: Donnah at December 12, 2005 08:00 PMHow do you help ?
Posted by: carole at December 12, 2005 08:30 PMThe only help you can give is by applying as a foster family if you live in the San Antonio area.
If you want to write to them about the program, the e-mail is: k-9@dhs.gov
Posted by: Donnah at December 12, 2005 08:48 PMthat's an incredible story. of course, I didn't see it anywhere else.
keep up the good work.
Posted by: bostonirish at December 13, 2005 08:55 AMWabs. I wub dem.
Posted by: tree hugging sister at December 13, 2005 01:43 PMLOL@Boston. Yeah, you won't see it anywhere else, that's for sure. Not a terribly good thing for a blogger, but I did enjoy putting it together.
Posted by: Donnah at December 13, 2005 02:25 PMIt's a wonderful entire thread, Donnah. Tears to my eyes, too, several times.
These dogs -- aren't they all -- are just so.good. God's blessed humanity with dogs and horses, no doubt about it. We would still be walking along alone without them.
Posted by: -S- at December 13, 2005 04:16 PMDonnah,
My co-blogger (and better half) Dymphna has nominated your post for the non-Council post of the week for the Watcher of Weasels. My suggestion, natch.
OT -- she recently blogged on something you might like: four women in Saudi Arabia decided to marry their *driver* so they wouldn't have to commute so far to work! Amusing, eh?
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2005/12/its-enough-to-drive-you-to-marry.html
Keep up the good work; you are my pipeline to the *real* news.
Posted by: Baron Bodissey at December 13, 2005 10:22 PMWhy is it that little things like this can mean sooooo much? Really touching!
Posted by: Bohemian at December 14, 2005 03:03 PMThanks, Baron. That's very kind of you. If I had a driver, I'd marry him too. Then I'd never have to stop at the gas station again.
Glad you liked it, Suzie and Lisa.
Posted by: Donnah at December 14, 2005 06:54 PMIt's always a pleasure to stop in here and be surprised by something you write.
Thank you.
I've posted in a couple of places for people to come in and read it. Thanks again!