Heroic guide dog Roselle led her blind owner and others to safety down 78 floors on 9/11

Marking 21 years since the September 11th attacks today, Pet Rescue Report includes a remarkable story of heroic guide dog, Roselle, saving her blind owner and dozens of other people in the Twin Towers during the terrorist attacks. One can hardly imagine being up 78 stories as Michael Hingson and his guide dog worked as a team; and as they all quietly and methodically descended down 78 flights of stairs.

We heard a muffled explosion, the building sort of shuddered. No one had any idea what was going on, because the airplane hit 18 floors above us on the other side of the building. But clearly, we needed to evacuate.

Michael Hingson as told to Neil Cavuto on Fox News

Before that, it had been a usual day in the lives of Roselle and Mike. The sales director had been blind from birth and that day they arrived at Tower One; Roselle had settled into her favorite spot underneath Mike’s desk. At 8:45 in the morning, the first hijacked plane crashed into the tower. Mike called his wife, and then with his staff evacuated – all the time led by the Labrador retriever who helped 30 people with that hellish descent through the smoke, the soot and screams.

According to the American Kennel Club, by the time the survivors reached the sidewalk, Tower Two had been struck and collapsing. With Roselle leading and others helping, they ran for shelter down a subway entrance. They emerged from underground as Tower One fell, and Roselle kept going – dozens of blocks away until the danger was no longer imminent.

For her bravery, Roselle went on to be awarded the Canine Excellence Award in the guide dog category 2002.

After 9/11, Hingson returned to California to work for Guide Dogs for the Blind, the organization that trained Roselle. Hingson has written several books about his loyal companion.

Roselle died in June 2011 at 14-years-old. Michael and Karen Hingson were by her side.

Check out one of the interviews on YouTube here:

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