Roselle
On September 11, 2001, a yellow Labrador retriever named Roselle became an unlikely hero. Roselle was a seeing eye dog for Michael Hingson, a sales manager for Quantum who worked on the 78th floor of Tower 1. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower, Roselle was under Hingson’s desk as usual. After the plane hit, the Labrador kept her head better than many humans. Amid fire, smoke and pandemonium, Roselle led Hingson to the stairwell. As the two made their way to the exit, more and more people began to follow the dog’s calm presence.
Roselle successfully guided Hingson and 30 other Tower 1 employees safely to the ground. Shortly after they reached the lobby, the South Tower collapsed. Roselle and Hingson sprinted away from the falling debris and dust cloud. Roselle, however, still did not panic. She successfully led Hingson another 40 blocks to the safety of a friend’s apartment. Hingson said of his faithful guide, “Roselle kept guiding me perfectly. She didn’t stop once.” Roselle would continue to guide Hingson for 10 more years before passing away on June 26, 2011.