Heather Sheedy, staff writer

September 26, 2001

Robert Ake and Kent Carter heard about the Sept. 11 national tragedy while traveling in the Painted Hills of New Mexico while on a run for Professional Pet Transports, Inc., a nationwide pet transport service.

They made some calls, dropped their pet cargo off at a kennel in Colorado, and by Sept. 13 were heading east. Their mission was to assist pet owners in the aftermath of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Fortunately, Pet Transport vehicles are custom shuttle buses specifically designed for transporting animals.

All across the country they were touched by the display of American flags. Ake commented, "This really has brought the country together."

As the men arrived in New York City in the early morning of Sept. 15, Ake felt as though he was entering the "gates of Hell." Carter felt a general feeling of violation and said, "It appalled me that these people would use human sacrifice as bombs."

They reported to the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, which was in charge of animal rescue in the devastated area. Security was heavy and at times there was confusion over authority of specific areas, according to the John Day men. In addition, strict time constraints were applied to each call to assist. They worked together and independently during the effort.

During a memorable rescue, Ake, the pet owner and an armed ASPCA agent, with flashlights in hand, entered a dark building near the former World Trade Centers, climbed to the 35th floor and successfully made the rescue of two small turtles. After rescues, the Pet Transport van was used to move pets and owners to temporary homes or veterinarians from one staging area to another.

In the end, rescued cats, dogs, turtles, an iguana, boa constrictor, parrots and a gecko gave pet owners some sense of comfort in the midst of chaos. Care A Van was a mobile veterinary center set up to rehydrate and tend to other needs of the pets such as cleaning their eyes and overall checkups.

Ake and Carter also suffered from smoke in their eyes and from the heavy dust covering the entire area. "Three days felt like three weeks," they commented, especially after sleeping in the bus on location.

Worldwide media coverage was evident as the men were in contact with CNN, Fox TV, Japanese television, and may be featured in People or Animal Planet magazines, and they also received a call from the National Enquirer.

When Ake and Carter felt as though they'd done their job, they headed home after three very long days.

Memories of the devastation are hard to shake. Carter recalled talking to a 76-year-old man whose wife had a heart attack and died shortly after the second plane attack; and the spunky older woman who showed him how to get around in "the city." He said heartaches were prevalent with people directly involved in the rescue. They did more than connect people with pets, they also transported rescuers.

"I had to be the strong shoulder, they definitely needed somebody," Carter said of the rescue workers that shared their deep feelings of grief with him, a total stranger.

They intend to keep in touch with the people they helped – people like Arial Goodman, who had an investment company located at dead center of the impact. She was late going to work because her mother called.

With employees and records gone, Goodman has mixed emotions – feeling as though she should have been there, but grateful she wasn't, and worrying about where to go with her responsibility to clients and the victims' families. In a conversation with Ake, she questioned if this was the beginning of the end. He listened, gave her encouragement and said maybe his purpose was to come and share his faith with her.

Not all of their memories are grim reminders of the destruction. They also recall the open-arms welcome and greetings by lines of people who stood out all day long to wave and express gratitude.

"They were amazed we traveled so far to help," Carter said.

The long trip home gave him time to think about where he wants to go with his future, what he needs to do.

"Even though it's 3,000 miles away, it's still in here," he said as he pointed to his heart. "It's still with me. ... I used to joke about New York, but by going and becoming personally involved, I won't joke about them anymore."

Ake had been to NYC before and hated it, but came away this time with a different view of the city and the people – a much warmer feeling.

"We were strangers, but were treated as friends," he said.