Question of the Week

Dennis Sprung

AKC President Emeritus

New York, NY

Being at the Delegate meeting and standing in the lobby with Ron when Blackie Nygood told us about the first plane and then we watched the second. After the meeting finally adjourned there was no access back to Manhattan so David Merriam and I spent the evening with the Menaker’s. A number of Delegates had no choice but to remain at the hotel but fortunately the one and only Paula Spector took command of everything.  Her attention to detail, care and passion for our community is second to none. To this day she is the go to person for countless things we accomplish. 

Driving home the next day CBS radio broadcast continuous appeals for a portable X-ray machine to help Search and Rescue dogs hurt in the ruble of the twin towers. That night through the assistance of The Ladies Kennel Association of America a post to obtain a machine was placed. A man in West Virginia called and I was able to purchase the X-ray machine along with multiple cartons of films, aprons, gloves, etc. The next step was to transport the equipment to New York.  Another post and many in our dog community volunteered to drive the supplies a 100 miles or so and the overnight journey began. 

Before 5 AM Thursday morning (less that 48 hours after our nation was attacked) I was standing on the Manhattan side of the Lincoln Tunnel when the last driver called me. I reached out to my friend Lt. Dan Donadio, head of the NYPD K-9 unit, that AKC has come to the rescue. Dan said to call again when the car came through the tunnel to meet me, I did and within minutes we were surrounded by the Secret Service and FBI, then being escorted to the foot of Ground Zero. The smoke was still rising. Upon being escorted out of Ground Zero the nearby crowds of tens of thousands cheered.  I said to myself it’s not me they were cheering, it is AKC.  My next thought was we can do more. 

The following day was spent creating plans for the DOGNY project, “America’s Salute to Search and Rescue Dogs.”  Recruiting Ron and Karen LeFrak as co-chairs. Soon a consultant was hired, that was the amazing Daphna Straus. Today she holds an important Vice-Presidency.   The results of DOGNY placed us in the well-deserved national spotlight as the largest outreach of our brand and there were many significant achievements: a press conference with Mayor Bloomberg, countless tv appearances and articles, 111 statues of German Shepherds placed throughout NYC, dog sculptures painted live on The Today Show, during the first 9/11 anniversary and for a full two weeks, the famed Saks Fifth Avenue blacked out every one of their 32 windows on 5th Avenue except for two, both of which displayed our statues, DOGNY Day at Yankee Stadium, the publication of a coffee table book, a celebrity auction at Sotheby’s Auction House and on and on. 

There was worldwide recognition of AKC for doing the right thing and the results after 6 months was that we raised $3.5 million profit.  This was donated to the Search and Rescue Dog Teams that came to assist in Washington DC, Pennsylvania and New York. 

“A labor of love to help our nation heal.”
 

Pam Mandeville

Somerset, NJ

In lieu of answering, a re-print of John's column of 10/3/2001... 

INSIDE OUT 

AFTERWARD

By John Mandeville

My initial reaction to the World Trade Center disaster was there's nothing I could say in this column.  This was at least in part because I have, even when wandering far afield, tried to be certain this column always says something relevant about purebred dogs…in my opinion anyway.  

I was wrong.  The terrorist insanity on September 11th is so engulfing of everyone and everything that we all have things to say about it and there have been many things directly connected to purebred dogs deserving comment.

Obviously none of us will forget what we were doing when we first heard.  I got the news from Perry Phillips when calling to inquire about a show shot, a win picture that seemed important when I made the call and beside the point a few minutes later.  The first thing Perry said was had I heard what had happened at the World Trade Center?  I said no while picking up the remote to find out.   I remained glued to the television for days.

From the first instant I knew it was a terrorist attack and it never occurred to me the Towers would collapse.  Even when the South Tower disintegrated I thought the North Tower would survive.  I don't know if you've lived nearby and been to the World Trade Center regularly if the disaster has a greater impact than for those who know the Towers more as a symbol.  The outpouring of anguish and support across this country and around the world has been stark testimony to the impact of this horror.  The memorials in world capitals particularly struck me in the days after the attack.

It is inevitable anyone who had been to the World Trade Center would have a flood of memories.  I was first there shortly after Windows on the World opened.  In those days Windows on the World was a membership club and Bill Metz then a highly successful exhibitor of Sporting dogs on both coasts and a member of AKC's Board took me to lunch.  Bill subsequently got me reservations to take friends when Windows on the World was still private.  That was a very big deal.  Later when their Sunday brunch was open to the public I thought taking it in was one of two mandatory things to do with out of town visitors….the other being a Broadway show.

Even as the first Tower collapsed before my eyes I could see images of search and rescue dogs.  The speed with which these dogs were at the scene was astonishing.  As much as anything search and rescue dogs performing their grueling and gruesome work has become a hallmark of disaster scenes wherever they occur. 

It gives me an enormous lift, as with guide dogs, that these dogs are overwhelmingly purebred.  I saw several times a long piece of tape of a Giant Schnauzer working in the debris.  I would love to know that dog's story.  I wonder to what extent the public knows purebreds because of the traits that have been bred into them are the best candidates for these jobs?  And bomb, and drug, and chemical detection work as well.

As quickly as people everywhere responded to the disaster so too did the American Kennel Club, dog people and clubs across the country.  Dog people and the AKC deserve high praise for standing up when it counted. AKC and its Companion Animal Recovery subsidiary immediately created the AKC/AKC CAR Disaster Relief Fund with a $50,000 contribution to provide support for search and rescue dogs and to help the pets of disaster victims.  Good for them.  This fund quickly swelled well past $100,000.

CAR made a humanitarian contribution of $50,000 to the American Red Cross and announced they would match their employees' contributions dollar for dollar.  Beyond financial assistance AKC made a concerted effort to inform the fancy, making effective use of e-mail and their Website, where numerous accounts of efforts by dog clubs and individuals were posted.  

Especially impressive was AKC's efforts obtaining and delivering to the disaster site a portable x-ray machine.  This happened on Sunday the 16th after the media reported two search and rescue dogs had fallen into craters while working the site.  AKC VP Dennis Sprung did yeoman work getting the x-ray machine.  Great job.

September 11th was also the date of the Delegates Meeting, which was to take place virtually within sight of the World Trade Center at a Newark Airport hotel.   Because the September Meeting convenes early to elect Delegate Committees it's likely everyone in dogs knows someone who was not much more than a stone's throw from ground zero when the planes struck.  

The muted bickering that broke out in the aftermath of the Meeting concerning whether it should have been immediately terminated combined with similar complaints about events being canceled on that first weekend bemused me.  I liked the note that struck.…dog people disagreeing and willing to let you know why…meaning all's well with the dog game.

Reaction to a tragedy of this magnitude is both a shared public experience and intensely private.  Each of us is entitled to respond as best fits us.  I went to shows on that Saturday and Sunday.  As it happens the ones at which AKC Rep Sydney Good organized the printing and distribution of commemorative ribbons.  Another great job.  I absolutely support any club that decided not to hold its event, but I'm glad those shows were held.  I'm glad I went.

I am not one for false sentimentality.  But in a world in which 6000 people went to work and were massacred before mid-morning, it was important and comforting to see people you're used to seeing every week, that you have a connection to…sometimes close, other times that tenuous dog connection where you barely know their lives beyond dogs…and know they're ok.  I've always thought it appropriate to view the dog world as an extended family….and for many, it was important to be with all their different families in the aftermath.

So, do you agree with me, the sport is an anchor of normalcy….imagine saying that….in an insane world? 

Steven Herman,

Wesley Chapel, Florida 

I was at the courthouse in Dade City, Florida, awaiting the start of a hearing. The Judicial Assistant had her small, black and white television on and footage of the plane(s) crashing into the towers was playing. It was a surreal moment and stunned silence was all around. The Bailiff brought me back to reality by calling us in to the hearing. I struggled to concentrate on the legal hearing at hand.

Virginia Murray

Island Lake, IL 

My personal memory is the fact that I was in Europe with my mother and sister-in-law on a river cruise.  We had just been out on an excursion and when we came back to our boat the crew was all huddled around a TV in lobby area watching.  I walked up and said "Is that the twin towers?" just as the first tower came down.  After that the security around our river boat was insane because it was hosting mostly Americans.  Every port we had soldiers with machine guns posted outside our boat.  Our flight home was the first flight out of Germany back to the States after it happened.  We had to go through three different security check points, everything in our luggage was taken out, x-rayed if needed.  Our gate was in a secure area that was behind 3" thick bullet proof glass.  Our plane sat in the middle of the tarmac with fencing around it and 3 armored tanks and soldiers.  It was insane.  I was so scared flying back and so relieved to be home with my family.  All I could think about was the families of the victims of that horrible day.

Barbara Miller

Old Brookville, NY

I was sitting in a wheelchair having just had knee surgery.  Matt Stander arrived for coffee and a bagel. Susie Kipp called to let me know a plane flew into one of the twin towers.  I told her “It’s a no fly zone. Can’t be”

We turned the TV on and both of us were stunned.  The rest is an unfortunately ugly history lesson.  Sept 11th will always be a day to remember the Brave men and women of the USA.

Michael Canalizo

Mill Neck, NY

Of course, being a native New Yorker all the tragedy of surrounding 9/11 impacted us greatly but there was one very special thing that happened that’s so relatable to us in the Dog community.

I was taking Lee to the airport for her trip home, and as we looked out from the parkway, we could notice smoke coming from one of the towers. We were listening to music and naturally put on a news station only to find out what they thought was a small plane hitting the towers… we found out subsequently of the magnitude of this tragedy. We diverted to my brother‘s friend, JoAnne Paulino, a Papillon breeder who is very close to where we were traveling. She happened to have just come back from the airport having put a Papillon puppy on a flight to LA. While we sat around watching this scenario unfold, American Airlines called Joanne to alert her that the flight her puppy was on was going be landing in Chicago. They asked if we could get somebody to pick up the puppy. Of course Nancy and Brian Martin stepped up and made themselves available to pick up the puppy. 15 minutes later as the tragedy was becoming more and more serious (if that’s possible ) American Airlines called back a second time to tell us the flight was now coming down now in Detroit and if we could have somebody pick her up there. It just amazes me is that American Airlines in the middle of a world crisis would take the time to make two phone calls to protect 5 pound puppy going off to the new home.

I spent the next six months at the local bagel place crying into my breakfast as I read about all the local people that were impacted this is always a special time for a New Yorker and to this very day, It’s very hard to even write this for you.

Anne Marie Kubacz

Jackson, NJ 

On 9/11 I left for work a 4:30 AM, as I got to the Lincoln tunnel approach the sunrise was glorious, the World Trade Center glistening in the sun.  I was working at The Animal Medical Center in New York City when the first plane hit the tower. Like many, I thought it was a horrendous accident, but honestly worried about a skyjacking gone horribly bad.  

AMC was part of the mayor's emergency response team so a group of us managers gathered in a conference room to watch TV and plan. When the second plane hit, planning became reality. I will never get over the events of that day and I will never forgive the terrorists who detonated so many lives in NYC, DC and Somerset County PA. I lived at AMC that week, grabbing naps when I could. We mobilized care of the search and rescue dogs at Ground Zero by Dr. Micheal Garvey, and cared for dogs at AMC that needed more than triage care. I wanted to be onsite but Michael Garvey said I need you to coordinate here so I can be there.

On a few occasions I did go out of AMC, once to donate blood shortly after the towers collapsed as I am O negative. The city was in shock and so united in its response. There was ash in the air. I cradled ashes in my hands and said a prayer for the victims and brave heroes whose remains I held, they were incinerated. 

As the week progressed two small things gave me comfort. Seeing the tribute at Yankee Stadium on TV and Lee Greenwood singing God Bless the USA. I still cry every time I hear it.    

The other were the ribbons that Rau Dog Shows gave out on the weekend at the Lehigh Valley Dog show. I made it home late the night before, and desperately needed the hugs from Randy and Peter, and also something familiar and comforting. So I went to the dog show fully expecting that maybe I couldn't even get out of the van. I treasure that flat ribbon from Rau and the love that surrounded us.

Since that day so many other heroes have died from the effects of that day.

I am crying typing this. Still not brave enough to visit any of the 9/11 memorials.

I will never forget and never forgive.

Christina Freitag

Louisville, KY

I immediately went into survival mode. I withdrew a large sum of money in small bills from the bank,  made sure the vehicles all had full gas tanks and purchased a large quantity  of non-perishable food along with lots of bottled water.

Couldn't forget the dogs - picked up extra bags of food.

Kitty Steidel   

Scottsdale, Arizona

I was getting ready for the delegates meeting. I left my hotel room and at the end of the hallway I saw smoke near one of the towers and thought a plane had gone too close and clipped it causing smoke. At the Meeting I learned of the bombings. Joan Urban was staying at a different hotel so she took a taxi to the meeting. She said the cab driver was cheering. The meeting was cancelled. It was difficult getting out of the city. Rental cars were non-existent.  I stayed a couple of days at the hotel then a friend picked me up and took me to the area where I was judging that weekend. After judging I stayed in PA with my daughter. Days later I was able to get a flight home and I told my husband I would never leave home again. Listening to news I learned the fate of all those people who lost their lives and loved ones. It was a very depressing and  frightening experience.

Rita Figg

Laurel, Florida 

We had a client walk in the door looking at his phone - he looked up with a most confused look on his face and said "an airplane just flew into the twin towers.”  We all thought it must be some joke, but then we turned on our office TV to see that it was real -  we then watched the other tower get  hit - not much work got done that day, as we were glued to the TV for the day -  when clients did come in, they were in shock. We had lots of cancellations as folks could not fly, but not one person complained about not being able to go where planned.

One of my most vivid memories is of the folks trying to outrun the horrendous smoke and debris cloud -  truly a nightmare day...