![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIiejeOY-biD9y5YmUiXqvzLw-UPKDciiksbqkTaPRD2FinUaoaxTsirgJ8n0KFknrvVx69P7iSUWVkDpkOuaWTIUiy8mkBOXPGTB_dkg6hkGN4fGGCqDIlalGjHa7CONpuCAvA/s400/comfort-dog-newyork-709252-sw.jpg)
The lesser known of New York's canine heroes, comfort dogs, such as this golden retriever, help soothe those affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Similar to search-and-rescue dogs, comfort dogs travel to disaster scenes to aid relief efforts. Studies show that people experience physiological changes—such as a drop in heart rate and blood pressure—when they pet animals.
(Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "Zip USA: 10013—After the Fall," September 2002, National Geographic magazine)
Photograph by Ira Block