Red, 9/11 Search And Rescue Dog, Gets Stem Cell Treatment To Help With Arthritis

For the last decade, Red -- a black Labrador from Annapolis, Md. -- has been helping people as a search and rescue dog. Her missions have included Hurricane Katrina, the La Plata tornadoes and the Pentagon after 9/11, WUSA9 reports.

Now, people are returning the favor by helping this canine hero get back on to her feet.

"The search and rescue dogs at the Pentagon are credited with finding 70 percent of the human remains," said Heather Roche, Red's owner and handler. "That helped a whole lot of those families actually get closure."

Less than two years old at the time, Red is now one of the last 9/11 search and rescue dogs still alive, WUSA9 reports.

Stricken with severe arthritis, she was often in severe pain and has limited mobility, reports Fox News.

But on Monday, Red underwent stem cell regenerative therapy, offered free of charge by MediVet America -- the company that developed the in-clinic stem cell technology.

"This is a small something that we can give back as a way of saying thanks," said Dr. John Herrity, the veterinarian overseeing Red's surgery.

The hope is that in six weeks or so, Red will be mobile again.