However, the events of that day continue to get condensed into smaller and smaller historical footnotes every year. Therefore, some people today may not have heard about Michael Hingson and his beloved guide dog.
In 2002, Roselle received an award from the American Kennel Club. It was in honor of “canine excellence” among service dogs. Two years later, a veterinarian diagnosed Roselle with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, a disease that affects blood platelets. Hingson believes the toxic air conditions that she faced helping him escape on 9/11 caused her condition.
Although Hingson has owned many guide dogs throughout his life, he will always have a special bond with the late Roselle. It was Hingson’s job to know where to go and how to get there, and it was Roselle’s job to get him there safely. On 9/11, he never let go of her harness. And she never wavered.
