On September 11, 2001, Roselle was resting beneath Michael Hingson’s desk on the 78th floor of the North Tower when Flight 11 struck the building above them. Hingson, who had been blind since birth, immediately noticed Roselle’s calm behavior — and trusted his guide dog to help them navigate the evacuation. 

Together, they entered the stairwell and began making their way down 78 floors. The descent took about an hour, while firefighters were moving upward through the same stairwell. Despite the confusion around them, Roselle continued guiding Michael toward safety. The 9/11 Memorial describes how the pair successfully escaped the North Tower and reached the street about 30 minutes before the building collapsed. 

Their journey did not end the moment they left the building. As the situation around Lower Manhattan became increasingly chaotic, Roselle continued helping Michael navigate toward safety. Their story became a powerful example of the relationship between a guide dog and the person who depends on her.

Roselle was later honored with the PDSA Dickin Medal alongside fellow guide dog Salty. The award recognized both dogs for remaining beside their blind owners and guiding them from the World Trade Center to safety. 

Roselle pᴀssed away on June 26, 2011, with Michael and his wife, Karen, beside her. Michael has continued sharing their story, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, trust and the abilities of people and animals working together. 

What makes Roselle’s story so moving is that Michael could not see what was happening around him — but he could trust the partner beside him. And Roselle, in turn, continued doing what she had been trained to do: guide him forward.

Their story is remembered not simply as an escape, but as a remarkable example of trust when everything else had become uncertain. 🕊️

Sources:
9/11 Memorial & Museum — Michael Hingson and Roselle