
Our Research
On September 11, 2001, Dr. Cynthia Otto, a veterinarian at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and a member of Pennsylvania Task Force 1 deployed to the World Trade Center disaster site and spent 9 days caring for the deployed Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs.
In January 2002, Dr. Otto received funding from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and other sponsors to conduct a 3-year study of the health and behavioral effects of the 9/11 disasters on the deployed SAR dogs. The study has continued to be funded for extended medical surveillance including observing joint damage and testing for the best glucosamine for the dogs and is now in its sixth year. This website is dedicated to updating the handlers involved in the study as well as the public regarding the ongoing information we have compiled and to dispel any misconceptions about the health and well-being of these dogs.