[August 28, 2012; Philadelphia, PA] – On Tuesday, September 11, Penn Vet will open its new Penn Vet Working Dog Center. The grand opening ceremony, slated to begin at 10:30 a.m., will be hosted by Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, director of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, who will talk about the mission of the center.

Bretagne, Kaiser and Morgan, three dogs that responded with their handlers to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 will also be in attendance.

“Bretagne, Kaiser and Morgan are just three of the heroes who have inspired this center,” said Otto. “They illustrate why these kinds of working dogs are important to the safety and security of our nation. We hope to study and train their protégés at this center and aim to advance the health and performance of all working dogs through our work.”

In addition, the first class of puppies, each named in honor of dogs who served at 9/11, will make their debut and Victoria Stilwell, renowned dog trainer who stars in Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog, is slated to attend and speak.

WHAT: Grand opening of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center

WHEN: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 3401 Grays Ferry Avenue, Philadelphia

Located at 3401 Grays Ferry Avenue, Building 6179, Philadelphia, the Penn Vet Working Dog Center will train the next generation of puppies. At the core of the center, which relies on financial support of friends and donors, are a breeding program and genetic research, both of which will advance the health and performance of working dogs whose natural abilities have long been used in service of our country.