12/09/2025
Dogs really are amazing and brave...
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Michael Hingson was working on the 78th floor of the North Tower. Born blind, he couldn’t see the flames or the destruction outside—but he could feel the building tremble.
At his side was Roselle, his trusted guide dog. She had just awakened from her nap. She wasn’t panicked. She wasn’t afraid. And Michael realized: if Roselle was calm, then they still had a chance.
Together, they began their descent—1,463 steps through smoke, jet fuel, and waves of frightened survivors. Firefighters brushed past them, climbing upward toward danger. Many would never return.
“Stay calm,” Michael told others. “If Roselle and I can do this, so can you.”
Step by step, Roselle guided him down. Minutes after they reached the lobby, the tower collapsed behind them. Outside, the world was covered in dust. For the first time, sighted people couldn’t see either. But Roselle led Michael through the chaos, stopping at stairwells and guiding him to safety.
She never left his side. He never let go of her harness.
Roselle passed away in 2011, her job complete. But her legacy lives on as a reminder that courage can come on four legs, with quiet steps, and an unwavering heart.
Because sometimes the bravest heroes don’t shout.
Sometimes, they simply walk beside us.
~Weird Wonders and Facts
