Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Veterinarians Look out for Rescue Dogs' Health
Aired November 30, 2002 - 17:57 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Veterinarians in Washington are using the latest medical technology, including MRIs, to look out for the health of some animal heroes. It seems the rescue dogs responding to the September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon may need some rescuing themselves now. CNN's Kathleen Koch shows us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Visiting the vet is nothing new for this five-year-old Golden Retriever Bailey but this trip is special because Bailey's no ordinary dog. For two weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bailey scoured the wreckage at the Pentagon looking for signs of life. Unlike their human counterparts, the rescue dogs weren't given masks to protect them from the toxins because masks filter out the scents the dogs need to find survivors and human remains.
EILEEN ROEMER, BAILEY'S OWNER: We were all given masks to wear at the Pentagon and they have their snouts right there, you know, in the material they're looking through and you know the smells that we could smell were pretty intense, you know jet fuel and explosives and death.
KOCH: Bailey's owner, FBI Special Agent Eileen Roemer brought him to the Iams Pet Imaging Center to get an MRI. The procedure is rarely performed on dogs but this is part of a study of dogs that worked at the Pentagon and World Trade Center sites. Twelve dogs will be checked annually for the next five years.
DR. DAN CAREY, VETERINARIAN: During their work, they're going to inhale all the asbestos and dust and everything that also is in the air and expose them to potential carcinogens, so what we're looking for is the beginnings of any nasal tumors that might start and catch them as early as possible.
KOCH: If tumors do develop, it could help researchers determine the health dangers associated with working at disaster sites for rescue dogs and their human counterparts.
CAREY: If we can see something in these dogs that might be a risk for both them and the handlers it may change the way that they work in similar circumstances in the future. And those are actually perfect. They look very, very nice.
KOCH: This time Bailey passes the exam with no sign of tumors but his owner knows that could change in the future. ROEMER: It's obviously something that's in the back of my mind. Any environment where we would have to wear a mask, you know, and their nose is stuck right in it, you know that they're at least open you know to have difficulties later. But you know the work that they do is so worthwhile and so necessary that it kind of keeps you from thinking about that.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 30, 2002 - 17:57 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Veterinarians in Washington are using the latest medical technology, including MRIs, to look out for the health of some animal heroes. It seems the rescue dogs responding to the September 11th terrorist attack on the Pentagon may need some rescuing themselves now. CNN's Kathleen Koch shows us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Visiting the vet is nothing new for this five-year-old Golden Retriever Bailey but this trip is special because Bailey's no ordinary dog. For two weeks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bailey scoured the wreckage at the Pentagon looking for signs of life. Unlike their human counterparts, the rescue dogs weren't given masks to protect them from the toxins because masks filter out the scents the dogs need to find survivors and human remains.
EILEEN ROEMER, BAILEY'S OWNER: We were all given masks to wear at the Pentagon and they have their snouts right there, you know, in the material they're looking through and you know the smells that we could smell were pretty intense, you know jet fuel and explosives and death.
KOCH: Bailey's owner, FBI Special Agent Eileen Roemer brought him to the Iams Pet Imaging Center to get an MRI. The procedure is rarely performed on dogs but this is part of a study of dogs that worked at the Pentagon and World Trade Center sites. Twelve dogs will be checked annually for the next five years.
DR. DAN CAREY, VETERINARIAN: During their work, they're going to inhale all the asbestos and dust and everything that also is in the air and expose them to potential carcinogens, so what we're looking for is the beginnings of any nasal tumors that might start and catch them as early as possible.
KOCH: If tumors do develop, it could help researchers determine the health dangers associated with working at disaster sites for rescue dogs and their human counterparts.
CAREY: If we can see something in these dogs that might be a risk for both them and the handlers it may change the way that they work in similar circumstances in the future. And those are actually perfect. They look very, very nice.
KOCH: This time Bailey passes the exam with no sign of tumors but his owner knows that could change in the future. ROEMER: It's obviously something that's in the back of my mind. Any environment where we would have to wear a mask, you know, and their nose is stuck right in it, you know that they're at least open you know to have difficulties later. But you know the work that they do is so worthwhile and so necessary that it kind of keeps you from thinking about that.
KOCH: Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
