18 years since that fateful day that changed our country. 18 years.... a baby born on that day is now legally an adult. Hard to believe, sometimes. We all remember where we were when it happened... it is my generation’s Kennedy assasination.... and like that day, it will never be forgotten...

Our fire crew got both a brand new engine AND a new station to park it in this year. The fire station has been combined with the ambulance station (the ambulance service used to be a private company and had their own station, but they are now all under the county emergency services) .

Once again, I took Eleven down to visit our fire fighters. They had just come back from a run - a bad car accident - in which there was a fatality. The ambulance crew was there as well, and I think they all needed the dog...

They were washing the apparatus when we got there, and Eleven does so enjoy playing in the water. After a hard run like they had, they really needed to watch a puppy play and laugh together.

Eleven very much earned her stripes as a therapy dog. After the work was done, we went inside to share Toni’s birthday treats (she turned 15), and Eleven went to work. One of the ambulance crew had never been to a fatality before, and Eleven kind of homed in on him - much like Drift used to do, she seemed to know who needed her the most. He was quiet and somewhat separated from the rest of the group.

Whiled I chatted with the crew about the new truck and station, and shared the old stories with the new crew members, Eleven stayed close to her charge. By the time we left, he was laughing and sharing stories along with the rest of us.

When I went to leave, the Chief asked to talk to me for a moment and walked us to the car. He said that he had been concerned about the young paramedic and had been watching Eleven interact with him. He was very impressed with her ability to draw him out and get him to re-engage with the others.

He said that while they have therapists available at any time for them, sometimes they just need a dog like Eleven to help them put things back into perspective. I agreed. He said he needs to talk to command, but wanted to know if it would be possible to call on Eleven should a situation arise in which he felt she would be beneficial. I said ABSOLUTELY!

I simply can’t be prouder of my little girl... she had some terrifically huge paw prints to fill, but I think that Drift would be proud of her as well....

 Quote: Kelly

18 years since that fateful day that changed our country. 18 years.... a baby born on that day is now legally an adult. Hard to believe, sometimes. We all remember where we were when it happened... it is my generation’s Kennedy assasination.... and like that day, it will never be forgotten...

Our fire crew got both a brand new engine AND a new station to park it in this year. The fire station has been combined with the ambulance station (the ambulance service used to be a private company and had their own station, but they are now all under the county emergency services) .

Once again, I took Eleven down to visit our fire fighters. They had just come back from a run - a bad car accident - in which there was a fatality. The ambulance crew was there as well, and I think they all needed the dog...

They were washing the apparatus when we got there, and Eleven does so enjoy playing in the water. After a hard run like they had, they really needed to watch a puppy play and laugh together.

Eleven very much earned her stripes as a therapy dog. After the work was done, we went inside to share Toni’s birthday treats (she turned 15), and Eleven went to work. One of the ambulance crew had never been to a fatality before, and Eleven kind of homed in on him - much like Drift used to do, she seemed to know who needed her the most. He was quiet and somewhat separated from the rest of the group.

Whiled I chatted with the crew about the new truck and station, and shared the old stories with the new crew members, Eleven stayed close to her charge. By the time we left, he was laughing and sharing stories along with the rest of us.

When I went to leave, the Chief asked to talk to me for a moment and walked us to the car. He said that he had been concerned about the young paramedic and had been watching Eleven interact with him. He was very impressed with her ability to draw him out and get him to re-engage with the others.

He said that while they have therapists available at any time for them, sometimes they just need a dog like Eleven to help them put things back into perspective. I agreed. He said he needs to talk to command, but wanted to know if it would be possible to call on Eleven should a situation arise in which he felt she would be beneficial. I said ABSOLUTELY!

I simply can’t be prouder of my little girl... she had some terrifically huge paw prints to fill, but I think that Drift would be proud of her as well....

I'm so glad you posted this, Kelly.

I saw a beautiful tribute to the 9/11 dogs on Facebook yesterday, and I've been thinking of them (and all SAR dogs) ever since.

Thank you for sharing this, Kelly, both the somber reminder of the anniversary of 9/11 -- and you're right, I'm sure all of us remember exactly where we were when it happened -- as well as the touching story of Eleven and her visit to the fire and ambulance crews and how she sensed that one of them needed some special attention.

It sounds like she is maturing into a wonderful therapy dog and I hope she will have more opportunities to provide her own special brand of therapy to those who need her at the station. I personally believe there are times when it can be more beneficial to interact with and talk to a dog than to any person.

 Quote: Kelly

18 years since that fateful day that changed our country. 18 years.... a baby born on that day is now legally an adult. Hard to believe, sometimes. We all remember where we were when it happened... it is my generation’s Kennedy assasination.... and like that day, it will never be forgotten...

Our fire crew got both a brand new engine AND a new station to park it in this year. The fire station has been combined with the ambulance station (the ambulance service used to be a private company and had their own station, but they are now all under the county emergency services) .

Once again, I took Eleven down to visit our fire fighters. They had just come back from a run - a bad car accident - in which there was a fatality. The ambulance crew was there as well, and I think they all needed the dog...

They were washing the apparatus when we got there, and Eleven does so enjoy playing in the water. After a hard run like they had, they really needed to watch a puppy play and laugh together.

Eleven very much earned her stripes as a therapy dog. After the work was done, we went inside to share Toni’s birthday treats (she turned 15), and Eleven went to work. One of the ambulance crew had never been to a fatality before, and Eleven kind of homed in on him - much like Drift used to do, she seemed to know who needed her the most. He was quiet and somewhat separated from the rest of the group.

Whiled I chatted with the crew about the new truck and station, and shared the old stories with the new crew members, Eleven stayed close to her charge. By the time we left, he was laughing and sharing stories along with the rest of us.

When I went to leave, the Chief asked to talk to me for a moment and walked us to the car. He said that he had been concerned about the young paramedic and had been watching Eleven interact with him. He was very impressed with her ability to draw him out and get him to re-engage with the others.

He said that while they have therapists available at any time for them, sometimes they just need a dog like Eleven to help them put things back into perspective. I agreed. He said he needs to talk to command, but wanted to know if it would be possible to call on Eleven should a situation arise in which he felt she would be beneficial. I said ABSOLUTELY!

I simply can’t be prouder of my little girl... she had some terrifically huge paw prints to fill, but I think that Drift would be proud of her as well....

What an INSPIRATION your Eleven is to everyone, Kelly !!! And we all agree that she's making Drift so PROUD