Topics: Dogs

    Two Decades Since 9/11: Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center Launches Tribute Video

    September 9, 2021
    By: Martin J. Hackett

    The Working Dog Center at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has launched a new video, “Two Decades Since 9/11: A Tribute.” This short video features the handlers of Search and Rescue working dogs deployed to Ground Zero and the Pentagon immediately following September 11, 2001. 

    “On September 11th, I got the call to pack my bags and report to the Philadelphia Fire Academy as part of the Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1,” said Cynthia Otto, professor of Working Dog Sciences and Sports Medicine, and director of Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center. “I spent 10 days at Ground Zero taking care of the dogs that were working there. That indelible, very personal experience served as the guidepost and inspiration for The Working Dog Center that we have today.”

    The video is dedicated by the Working Dog Center to the canines who served our country in the aftermath of September 11th, and to all dogs who continue to bring humans hope in difficult times.

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    About Penn Vet

    Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

    Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 30,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,300 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 22,400 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.