Incredible tale of 9/11’s first rescue dog Atlas & his handler who spent 3,000 hours searching rubble at Ground Zero

WHEN America faced its darkest day in history 20 years ago, brave rookie rescue dog Atlas and his handler were the first to rush into the carnage to help find survivors at Ground Zero.

Heroes Atlas and Robert Schnelle, now 60, arrived 45 minutes before the first tower collapsed and rushed inside without a second thought to help evacuate terrified workers – and they didn’t leave for seven months.

Atlas and Robert Schnelle, now 60, arrived 45 minutes before the first tower collapsed

6

Atlas and Robert Schnelle, now 60, arrived 45 minutes before the first tower collapsedCredit: Facebook
Schnelle and Atlas spent 3,000 hours at Ground Zero

6

Schnelle and Atlas spent 3,000 hours at Ground ZeroCredit: Facebook
Atlas was thrown into what would ultimately become the defining moment of his career as a police dog

6

Atlas was thrown into what would ultimately become the defining moment of his career as a police dogCredit: Facebook

It was the start of a gruelling seven months of 12-hour shifts for the brave pair, who worked alongside thousands of other rescue workers at the scene until May, 2002.

In

Read more