They searched day and night for survivors. They were focused and fearless in their mission. They worked obediently, searching tirelessly, risking injury and offering comfort. They are and will always remain, the HERO DOGS OF 9/11. Premiering Sunday, September 11 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, Animal Planet presents a one-hour documentary special that reveals the true stories of three survivors and the legacies of working dogs who saved these lives at Ground Zero during the September 11, 2001 crisis and aftermath. The Canadian-made special pays tribute to the 300-plus dogs that were part of the rescue and recovery operation. HERO DOGS OF 9/11 also features the heroic recovery story of the last remaining survivor who was found by dogs and pulled out of the rubble 27 hours after the WTC buildings collapsed on that fateful autumn day.

In documentary style, using a seamless blend of first-person accounts and narration, on-location shooting, stylized archival photos and videos, HERO DOGS OF 9/11reveals the real-life drama that the rescue workers, animal medics, working dogs and their handlers went through in the aftermath of the World Trade Center terrorist attack. Now, in the first-ever special about the HERO DOGS OF 9/11, go behind-the-scenes of the infamous tragedy that changed the world forever with some of the unheralded four-legged heroes of the day. The rescue dogs on the scene at the World Trade Center went where it was impossible for humans to go – an occasional dog collapsed from exhaustion, but none of them gave up. They stood by the sides of countless desperate people and they offered solace to those in anguish. Today, ten years later, most of these hero pups are retired, or deceased, but they leave a legacy and a story that must be told.

HERO DOGS OF 9/11 reveals how the hard work of worker dogs and their canine handlers proved invaluable to the search and rescue mission of the survivors at Ground Zero. In addition, the documentary will investigate whether what, if any medical, tactical and veterinary advancements were discovered after researching how these hero dogs worked and survived the adverse conditions in New York City on that infamous September day.

HERO DOGS OF 9/11 has been produced as an exclusive for Animal Planet Canada by KELENCONTENT with participation of POWDERHOUSE, DOG FILESand STARLIGHT RUNNER ENTERTAINMENT.