“Purebred Dogs: They’re not just for show.” It’s been a successful tote bag slogan for National Purebred Dog Day, but only because it’s rooted in truth. “Tikva,” for example, was a Keeshond who worked as a therapy dog at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks. She comforted rescue workers, and also rode with victims’ family members on the 20-minute ferry ride to Ground Zero for their final farewells. Gentle Tikva would bury her face in a tense hand, or tap her nose against a tear-stained face to ease the pain.

That Tikva was even there was a seed planted when her owner, and a dog trainer, Cindy Ehlers, first experienced the impact that therapy dogs had after Thurston High School shooting in 1998. After that emotional experience, Ehlers got a Keeshond puppy she trained for crisis-response work.

Just in time.

On 9/11, Ehlers and that Kees puppy, “Tikva” (“hope’ in Hebrew) went to New York where Tikva was one of 318 therapy dogs and their handlers who worked endless days at Pier 94. They consoled brigades of police officers, firefighters and workers at Ground Zero. Tikva was just a year-old pup when the attacks occurred”

A WTC site Journal account of Animal Assisted Crisis response in 2001 read as follows: 

“Some men are sitting in chairs, others on 5 gallon buckets staring as their comrades sift carefully through debris, hoping for any sign of life. No one is talking. A multitude of expressions sweep over their dirt stained faces as we approach one of the many stations around the “pile’. When they find out that the dogs are brought in to see them, some joke, others ask what it is that the dogs do. I make my way towards them and ask Tikva to go say “hi.” Her enthusiasm changes to calm. She becomes keen on making her way towards a man sitting and staring at the pile. She touches her nose to his knee, as he reaches out to pat her, she lifts her paws up towards his lap as if she too is reaching. He carefully lifts her into his lap and is surprised to feel the softness of her fur. She tucks her face into the crook of his arm and waits for his fingers to massage her. Perhaps she too is seeking comfort. We remain at this site for about 2 hours. Conversation is lighthearted with one while another strokes Tikva’s fur, sharing about his experience of the last 12 days.” (read the Burns blog for more here)

During a 9/11 Day of Remembrance ceremony in 2011, Ehlers went out of her way to acknowledge the Keeshond Club of America for making the trip possible for the duo. Tikva was eleven years old at the time.

Tikva passed on to the rainbow bridge March 13, 2014 with Cindy by her side.