(WRC/NBC) There is a breakthrough treatment using stem cellsthat's helping search-and-rescue dogs.

Theanimals played key roles on Sept. 11, 2001and in other disasters. Nowthe therapy is part of the recovery process after years of heroic work.

Red's first assignment as a search, rescue and recovery dog was at the Pentagon following the 911 attacks.

Her handler, Heather Roche said "she handled it like a pro."

"She didn't care about the machinery, bobcats moving the debris and all the people and everybody in their Tyvek suits looking funny with the respirators, and she didn't mind any of it and went to work," Roche said.

Now the 911 hero is in bad shape. All those years of rescue work, and a 12-foot fall from a ladder, have taken a toll.

Arthritis forced her into retirement in July.

On Tuesday, the 12-year-old black Labrador received a breakthrough stem cell treatment to ease her pain and give her more mobility.

The procedure was performed by Dr. John Herrity at the Burke Animal Clinic, where he's done more than two dozen stem cell operations.

Medivet America developed the technology and donated the cost of the procedure.

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Rescue dogs get stem cell treatment