Fact check: During 9/11 rescue, they had to hide living people in the debris for the dogs to find so they wouldn't get as depressed finding only dead people.

1. Summary of the results

The core claim about rescue workers hiding to maintain dog morale during 9/11 rescue efforts is substantially true, though with some important nuances. Multiple sources confirm that handlers did stage "mock finds" to keep search dogs motivated ^{[1] [2]}. Specifically, handlers and rescue workers would hide in the rubble to give the dogs successful finds ^[2]. This practice was implemented because the dogs became stressed and discouraged from finding few survivors ^{[2] [3]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement oversimplifies a complex situation. Here's important additional context:

• The practice involved staged scenarios rather than randomly hiding living people in debris ^[1]
• These were organized "mock finds" specifically designed as part of the rescue operation protocol ^[3]
• The dogs faced significant emotional and psychological challenges beyond just depression, experiencing broader trauma from their work at the 9/11 site ^[4]
• This was part of broader search and rescue dog training techniques and protocols ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the core message is accurate, there are several aspects that could be misleading:

• The statement suggests this was an impromptu solution, when in fact it appears to have been a standard practice in challenging search and rescue situations ^{[5] [6]}
• The wording implies this was solely about preventing depression, when it was actually about maintaining operational effectiveness and the dogs' working capability ^[3]
• The statement oversimplifies the complex psychological challenges faced by the search and rescue dogs, which went beyond simple depression ^{[7] [4]}

The story has likely gained popularity because it combines the emotional appeal of both 9/11 and dogs, making it particularly shareable on social media, even though the reality was more nuanced and professional than the viral version suggests.