This is an email I received from Captain Shields. I was flattered that he took the time to write me, & that he liked my mention of Bear.
Thank you for your story on my Search and rescue
dog Bear.
He was:
First dog inside the devastated area of the WTC
(not important)
Made the only live finds by a dog (by some twist
of fate, all the live finds where made friends of mine)
Bear is credited with making the most find of
victims of the WTC
Bear found beloved FDNY Chief Peter Ganci
Bear found Commissioner of FDNY Feehan
We fought a battle (in Bear's name) with the
nations largest pet insurer to give the policies they promised the SAR dogs for
one year
One of the United States largest Law firms,
Proskauer Rose Started The Bear Search & Rescue Foundation (www.BearSearchandRescue.org
) in his name to pay for training and equipping Search and Rescue teams in the
U.S. and Canada. The Foundation also offers assistance for medical bills for
the SAR K-9's from the WTC or the Pentagon Incident.
The are over 450 tribute sites to Bear and a few
books about him. The Best of the Tribute sites is from Germany
www.4-esl.com/Bear/bear.htm
Bear is the most decorated dog in history. It has
been Capt. Shields and Bear Day in Three States. He was given an award by the
US Army, Hero Dog of the Year by the International Cat Society, will be
honored in Toronto in May, and he and I will be made honorary members of the
Scots Guards in March (the British Army honored him 9 times while he was
alive.) and just after his death the Guards wrote a song for the British
Martial Music called "Lament for the Golden Bear" in his honor. He was buried
as a Fire Fighter on the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid in New York Harbor October
2002..............a missing man formation was flown for him over N.Y. His
mission continues through the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation "so that
others may live".
Capt. Scott Shields
Director Marine Safety
NYC Urban Park Service / Search & Rescue