| Bear also gained notoriety for his tireless work at Ground Zero. He was one of the first canines to search the devastated area, and is credited with finding many victims, including the much beloved New York City Fire Department Chief Peter Ganci. Rescuers were awestruck watching Bear climb over 15 foot rubble piles, and adeptly maneuver on narrow girders. He was routinely hoisted into sunken pits of twisted steel, and was injured when a sharp piece of metal punctured his back. Bear received medical attention and then dutifully returned to "the pile." Captain Shields, who is also trained in disaster management, and Bear, played a key role in devising a plan to transport firefighters from piers along the Hudson to North Cove, near the World Trade Center Site. This plan was executed by the US Coast Guard under the direction of Captain Steven Whitlock of the "Catherine Walker," a state-of-the-art buoy tender. This lifesaving plan enabled rescuers, who were suffering casualties as they carried hundreds of pounds of equipment down the West Side Highway, to get to the site fresh and intact.
According to Captain Shields, Bear began his search and rescue training after jumping off of his Center Console Aquasport near Cockenoe Island in Connecticut, to aid a young boy who was struggling in the water. He grabbed the child by the wrist and pulled him to shore. After witnessing his dog's impromptu rescue, Shields decided to train Bear to accompany him in his marine safety and emergency management work. He not only trained him to find missing persons, but also to track and retrieve wounded wildlife. Bear was further trained to man the boat lines on Shields' s craft. Crowds often gathered along the beach to watch this giant of a golden haul the boat into shore.
During the last year of his life, Bear became a kind of "Good Will Ambassador," appearing at many fund raising events in the greater New York area. He also received numerous accolades for his own work. He marched at the head of the 2001 Columbus Day Parade, received an award from Connecticut's Governor Rowland, was honored by the US Army (77th Regional Support Command), and was serenaded on three occasions by the 1st Battalion of the Scot's Guards. In October of this year, the New York State Senate issued a Senate Proclamation declaring Bear and his Dad, "True Heroes of Ground Zero." Most recently, a foundation has been established in Bear's name to raise funds to help search and rescue dog teams across the United States, and to train these men and women in disaster and emergency management.
At his passing, Bear received a hero's send off. His body was taken by an FDNY Aviation Company from the New York Animal Medical Center to the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery Crematorium. On October 27th, the USS Intrepid hosted a memorial service for Bear. Taps were played, and a fly-by missing man formation was provided by Flight Across America, a fitting salute for this marine and Ground Zero hero.
A biography, Bear: Heart of a Hero, detailing the adventures of Captain Shields and Bear will be available in the spring of 2003.
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