K-9 Remembered For Saving Lives On 9/11
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Among the teams responding to ground zero were K-9 units and their handlers. One dog and his partner were dispatched from Philadelphia shortly after the attacks.
Bill Lukasik was living in South Philadelphia in 2001. He was the owner of a private fire investigation company. He and his highly trained Sheppard Lab mix, Lacey, were called to ground zero by the federal government.
Bill recalls being on the 25th floor inside 7 World Trade Center. Towers one and two had already collapsed earlier that day.
"She started getting a little bit nervous and started jumping at doors - any door. I mean she wants out."
Bill had never seen her act that way.
"I basically told our team leader that the dog said she wants out and I'm following her and everybody better follow me."
An order to evacuate was given and a short time later, the building came down.
"I didn't know how big the dust cloud was going to be, but that was what we got trapped in," said Bill.
Lacey was credited for saving lives by top officials including the president.
Since that time, Bill has developed respiratory problems, thyroid cancer and is living with other health issues.
Lacey was healthy up until a couple months ago. She died at the age of 13 of a stroke.
Reported by John McDevitt, KYW Newsradio
