Published by the National Search Alliance March 2020 Vol. 14, No. 2

SAR DOG NEWS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AGAIN

On February 9, 2020, the Dog Writers of America (DWAA) announced the winners of their annual writers contest and the SAR Dog News won in its newsletter format category. Co-Editors Sue Wolff and Norma Snelling were also recognized.

The Dog Writers Association of America is the most recognized professional writing association devoted to .

Due to the rapidly progressing COVID-19 outbreak, NSDA is extending re- certification dates for tests taken Bucky Says between 1-1-18 through 5-15-18. The If it’s raining cats expiration date of these certifications will and dogs, be 5-15-20. We will continue to evaluate Don’t step in a poodle the need for changes as events unfold.

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2020 Board Meeting Dates Meet NSDA’S BOD members April 2, 2020 Contact Corporate Secretary, Julie Grinnell, at Newest Board Member 2020-2023 [email protected] for the call-in number for Brendan Fike, Michigan the meeting

REGULAR SAR DOG NEWS FEATURES Page Bucky Says 1 Next month’s Board meeting date 2 The President’s Corner 4 Kibbles & Bits: Saying Goodbye 15 Synopsis/March BOD Meeting 18 Board Of Directors 18 Founding Members 18 The Last Howl 19 NSDA Upcoming Tests 20 Training. Seminars & Conferences 22

Next Board of Directors page 2 Pictures & bios of BOD to be seated in June Newest certified handler & K-9 page 5 Avalanche/ski patrol; British Columbia Need a Test in NM. Or SD.? page 6 National Canine Facility open Sales Page page 6 Dear NSDA Membership, Opportunities to buy and sell SAR related items I am both humbled and honored to have the The Human Thermal Plume page 7 privilege to serve you, the SAR community, and Three videos provide visual confirmation that most importantly, the public who needs us most. will help handlers improve training and Though I still consider myself "new" to the SAR deploying their search dogs world having been on my current team for only I was at a national outlet store . . . page 9 two and a half years, I am a firm believer in ICEDOG page 9 always learning something new and dreaming Enter vet’s info on phone big dreams. I won't ever claim to know Police Officer and K-9 page 10 everything but I will do all I can to advocate for “selfie” goes viral you. New discovered in K-9 noses page 11 Dog’s noses can detect heat I come to you having grown up in southeastern WA State Breed-Based Legislation page 12 Michigan where I also went to college (Go Blue!) Law adopts AKC-CGC and earned my masters degree in engineering. I Hong Kong face quarantine page 13 then moved to southwest Michigan and worked Dog tests positive for Coronavirus in the aviation field for over six years before Trail runner crawls 10 hours page 14 taking on the consumer products realm in Has broken leg mechanical engineering, earning an MBA along the way. Throughout my career, I have led

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Services" which tasked her with the numerous groups of people in varying management of many animal research facilities capacities and, currently, play the role of located on the UF campus. project manager on the development of a product with a local medical device company here in Kalamazoo, MI. Julie Grinnell, Board Member, Michigan

My hope with NSDA is that we continue to grow and make a positive impact in the SAR community so that all who are proud to call themselves a SAR member can best serve the community. I again thank you for this amazing opportunity to serve. Sincerely, Brendan Fike

Sherry Scruggs, Board Member, Georgia

Sherry has worked SAR canines since 1994. Her choice of working breed is German Shorthaired Pointers. She has certified dogs in Area, Land and Water HRD. She has worked with local law enforcement as well as the FBI in several states including her native Julie Grinnell began her SAR career in 2013 Florida. when she joined Michigan Search & Rescue. She currently works two German Shepherds in Air Sherry is a Principal Evaluator for NSDA in Scent/Wilderness: one certified and one in Land HRD, Water HRD, Area, Area with HR, training. In addition to her certifications as a and Gun Source Residue. Sherry is a member Handler and a Field Support Specialist, her roles of Fannin County Fire Rescue. with her team include Base Operations, Evaluator, Mentor and Tester. She also Sherry earned a Bachelor's Degree in Animal participates in presentations and demonstrations Science from the University of Florida in 1978. for the team. She has worked for the University of Florida for 34.5 years and retired in June of 2013. She In August 2018, Julie accepted the position of devoted most of her career to large and small Assistant Corporate Secretary with NSDA. In animal surgery at the University of Florida June 2019, she was appointed to the Board of College of Veterinary Medicine. Directors and the position of Corporate Secretary. During the last fourteen years she has held the position as "Coordinator Research Program Professionally, Julie holds a Journeyman’s Card in Industrial Machine Repair.

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Roy Pescador, Board Member, The President’s Corner British Columbia By Adam Kelly

Greetings once again readers of the SAR DOG News! I wanted to take some time this month to talk about an area that many of us in the SAR community might Roy is the current Executive Vice-President. gloss over a little He has been on the NSDA Board of Directors too easily. since 2017. There is an He has been a member of two local search and overwhelming rescue groups in the USA. Roy is currently in amount of “servant leaders” within our the processing of joining two SAR teams in community that are chomping at the bit to help Canada. those in need. It is the nature of search and rescue personnel to put the needs of others He has been a Principal Evaluator for NSDA in before their own. Sometimes, in some ways, multiple disciplines for several years. Along some of us will do this to a fault. with NSDA, he is also a Lead Evaluator with NASAR and a current EMT license holder. Roy Anyone that has been on a commercial flight in has been a training officer in multiple the last half a century has had it hammered organizations and has developed programs for into their subconscious that you must put on quality assurance and improvement. He has your oxygen mask before attempting to help been mentoring K-9 teams in developing a those around you that may be in need. We all robust and well-rounded asset in several states could do well to remember this line of thinking and Canada. when it comes to taking care of our own. Personally, I think that I could work to apply Roy has been an microscopist for over 20 years this in several key areas ranging from personal and managing laboratories in multiple health and fitness, my K-9’s health and fitness, locations. He has been published numerous my personal knowledge, skillset, and the times in peer-reviewed scientific journals. condition of my gear.

He has been an instructor and evaluator at all While they may be cliché, the adages of “an levels of education and has worked for various ounce of prevention is worth a pound of non-profit organizations He is currently the VP cure” and “if you’re not part of the solution, of an asbestos non-profit organization. you’re part of the problem” come to mind when considering this topic. I know that I, as a K-9 handler, must be healthy and fit enough to search all night long after working all day long.

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Taking care of myself first doing is currently helping, helping to prevent doesn’t mean that I deny a call-out because I future issues, or perhaps we are teetering very need to rest before going on the search. It close to the edge of becoming part of the means that the days, weeks, and months of problem instead of being the solution. We health-related decisions leading up to that must remember and consider these things not deployment were the only during a search but when planning our opportunities for me to training, stocking and replacing gear, choosing put myself first so that our daily lifestyles, and interacting with each when the time came, I other. could help those in need. The same exact ideology could be applied to the health and conditioning of my K-9(s). NEWEST NSDA CERTIFIED HANDLER Conversely, this doesn’t mean that I should commit myself to a search deployment when I know that I may be putting myself in danger. Extreme illness, sleep deprivation, or whatever else you want to attempt to suffer through might make you feel tough but there is the possibility that you could put yourself and others in jeopardy by becoming part of the problem. Another example would be decision making related to my K-9. I need to remember to be their biggest advocate as well. British Columbia Often times, we want our K-9s to continue to Karsten von Hosselin and K-9 Delphin be able to work when it comes to times of Avalanche/Ski Patrol adversity (environmental challenges, volume of work or general fatigue, minor injuries). They may be more than willing to work and others such as family, law enforcement, media, and even teammates may push for them to continue on. It is in these times that we must remember to consider the short term and long term, the risks versus the rewards, and remember that we are their voice and advocate. The options that we are presented may be more like shades of gray. There may not be a perfect answer for each situation at hand.

However, we must consider if what we are

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NEED A TEST... in the New Mexico or South Dakota areas of the Country?

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For details and costs of lodging please contact: Robert J. Noziska at 575-202-6571 or go to https://www.nationalcaninefacility.com/

SALES PAGE

Do you have SAR dog related items to sell or trade or buy? We will post your name, contact information, price and 50 words or less description of item. Deal directly with your buyer.

HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BUY Shout it out here to 1,580 SAR handlers.

FREE BOOKS needing a good SAR home by Norma Snelling - for price of postage only. 1. Send me your order. [email protected] 2. I mail you the book with postage receipt included 3. I trust you 4. You send me the postage

1. Place Last Seen Charlotte Freeman 2. Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero American Rescue Dog Assn. 3. Oklahoma Rescue Jon Hansen 4. Newhall Incident: America’s Worst Unformed Cop Massacre Chief John Anderson 5. The Dog Listener: How to Communicate with Your Dog Jan Fennell 6. K-9 Soldiers: Vietnam and After Paul Morgan 7. Click for Joy: from Clicker Trainers Melissa alexander 8. Component Training for Variable Surface Tracking Ed Presnall & Christy Bergon

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This separation of the inhaled and exhaled air How Dogs Smell and provides the dog with clean air during each the Human Thermal Plume and inhalation which differs from humans where Wake Videos of Dr. Gary S. Settles the inhaled air contains some of the exhaled air. Normal and close up views of dogs sniffing Tom Osterkamp 1-24-20 a source on a surface with their heads down

are shown. In this position, the exhalation jets Dr. Settles is Distinguished Professor Emeritus are directed toward the surface and backward. at Penn State University. Three videos were produced as part of his research on the If there are particulates on the surface, the scenting behavior of dogs. They provided strong exhalation jets can dislodge them insights into the development of instruments creating clouds of particulates (Figure 2) which for “sniffing” sensors to detect chemical and can be inhaled. biological scent for homeland security applications.

While much of the information in the videos is available in printed form; they bring it to life providing visual confirmation that will help handlers improve training and deploying their search dogs to find the lost, bring closure to the families of the missing, aid law enforcement in their pursuit and prosecution of Figure 2. Cloud of surface particles disturbed by criminals, secure the borders of our country, exhalation jets. and to aid the military in engaging our enemies. Some explosives and drugs produce many particulates and, when inhaled into the warm Canine Olfaction Video and moist environment of the nose, release A close up view of a dog’s nose while it is scent that can be detected by the dog. This sniffing shows the function of the alar flap (a process is thought to help dogs detect kind of valve that regulates inhalation and explosives with very low vapor pressures (e.g. exhalation) at the front of the nose and the RDX). Dry soil surface particles near buried slits at the side of the nose. Sniffing rate is mines containing TNT have high concentrations about five times per second. Sniffing with the of adsorbed scent molecules (DNT). The head up and the source held in front of the exhalation jets disturb these dust particles nose (Figure 1) shows that the inhaled air which are inhaled and release the scent comes from the front molecules on them in the dog’s nose. and that the exhaled air is directed through Handlers are aware that their dogs often spend the slits to the sides time sniffing surfaces (e.g. ground, vegetation, and downward in structural) and it is likely that the exhalation strong twin jets. jets can dislodge loosely held scent molecules that can then be inhaled and detected. Figure 1. Twin exhalation jets from a dog’s nose.

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but the video shows that this is not the case. Human Thermal Plume Video This plume exists on every living person at all The video also shows that the wake sweeps times when their skin is warmer than the downward behind the person and part of it adjacent air even when clothed. It starts at the contacts the ground. This leaves a “wake trail” feet and exits the body of a standing person in the air behind the person and a scent trail from the shoulders and head at a velocity of on the ground. Syrotuck (1972) assumed that about ½ mph, less than 1 foot per second. skin flakes from the human thermal plume While transiting the body, the plume settled to the ground behind a walking person incorporates air from all levels from the floor to but the video shows that this is not the case. the top of the head. Dust, skin flakes, bacteria Since the ground scent trail also contains scent from the floor, and scent from all levels on the body are included in the plume. This means that scent from anything attached to the body (e.g. explosives, illegal drugs, money, weapons) will be included in the plume and exit the body with it.

from everywhere on the body, then scent articles for trailing could come from anywhere on the body. However, scent from the head area may be more desirable since it is in the airstream of the plume and contains all scent Human Wake Video on the body. If a person is walking in still air that exceeds the exit velocity of the plume (½ mph), then Further Reading the plume will be swept behind the person in a Settles, G.S. 2020a. Flow Visualization Video wake. The wake video shows a person walking Clips of Canine Olfaction. YouTube Video: at about three mph, which produces a well https://youtu.be/eo2sdckSMMA defined wake. Settles, G.S. 2020b. Flow Visualization of the Human Aerodynamic Wake. YouTube The presence of this wake is the basis for Video: https://youtu.be/jQu3hcnBIkc “wake trailing dogs” since the wake contains Settles, G.S. 2020c. Schlieren Visualization of scent information from all places on the body. the Human Thermal Plume. YouTube scent information from all places on the body. Video: https://youtu.be/1MA-zEUepvs The video also shows that the wake sweeps Syrotuck, W.G. 1972. Scent and the Scenting downward behind the person and part of it Dog. Rome, New York: Arner Publications. contacts the ground. This leaves a “wake trail” Osterkamp T, in press. Detector Dogs and Scent in the air behind the person and a scent trail Movement: How Weather, Terrain, and on the ground. Syrotuck (1972) assumed that Vegetation Influence Search Strategies, Boca skin flakes from the human thermal plume Raton: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis. settled to the ground behind a walking person

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I told her that it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry.

The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the poisoned me. Yesterday I was at a national outlet store buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my I told her no, I had stopped loyal , Owen, the Wonder Dog and was in to pee on a fire hydrant the check-out line when a woman behind me and a car hit me. asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had an elephant? Well, I thought the guy behind her was going to So because I'm retired and have little to do, on have a heart attack he was impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, laughing so hard. I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't because I ended up They won't let me shop in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 there anymore. Better pounds before I awakened in an intensive care watch what you ask retired ward with tubes coming out of most of my people. They have all the orifices and IV's in both arms. time in the world to think of crazy things to say.

ICEDOG IN CASE of EMERGENCY

ICE (In Case of Emergency) is commonly recognized by emergency personnel as an entry on people’s cellphones. Go directly to the entry, ICE and you will find the person of choice to contact in case of emergency.

NSDA is recommending you enter ICEDOG on your phone as well. Choose the person you would want contacted if you were unable to care for your dog in an emergency. Enter ICEDOG on your phone and put that person’s contact information or your choice of veterinarian.

Tell your teammates so each person you work with knows to check your phone in case of injury. The more people made aware, the greater the chance of your K-9 being helped.

It is so simple to add and would reap such a benefit if needed.

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followed up to note “that sweet [boy] was his partner not just a dog.” Stevenson’s post took Police officer and K-9 partner go off, racking up more than 1,000 comments and viral after posing for sweet selfie nearly 50,000 shares as of Tuesday afternoon. Cloyd tells Yahoo Lifestyle that he was A Dallas police officer and his four-legged surprised at the positive reaction to the partner are adjusting to their sudden fame woman’s post. after becoming the subjects of a viral internet post. “Being a public servant, we are often photographed and recorded,” he explained. “I Senior Corporal Andre Cloyd of the Dallas am grateful that Mrs. Stevenson was gracious Police Department’s Explosive Detection K-9 enough to share the post, therefore allowing it Unit was on duty at Dallas Love Field Airport to get back to me. I take several pictures with with his partner Zigi on February 15 when he individuals, but rarely am I able to see where decided to take a picture to send to his they end up!” mother. Cloyd, who has been with the Dallas Police Department for 11 years, has worked with Zigi, who is a German shepherd, for three and a half years and considers the K-9 to be more than a partner, likening him to a son. The officer said that he takes selfies with Zigi often, which is just one of many perks of their work together. “The best part of being a K-9 officer is having a partner who is literally willing to do anything, as long as he is with you. The bond and focus we have both working and off-duty is priceless,” Cloyd said.

Now that Cloyd and Zigi’s picture has made the Gina Anzaldua Stevenson, who was at the rounds online, countless people have shown airport that day, spotted the duo posing for their love for the pair on social media. As a their adorable selfie and decided to take a result, Cloyd created a Facebook page for Zigi picture of their moment. Stevenson posted the fans. He hopes his viral fame could be a step picture to Dogspotting Society, a Facebook forward in fostering better police and group for dog lovers to post and share photos community relations. of canine friends. “It is my hope that society is able to help “I just watched the cop at the airport take a bridge the gap between citizens and law series of selfies with his dog and then stop to enforcement,” he said. “There are many show him each one,” she wrote. different personalities as well as characteristics Stevenson, who did not immediately respond within this profession; not one incident or to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment, then individual represents us all.” Megan Sims, K-9 Cop Magazine

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area called the rhinarium. But dogs’ rhinaria New sense discovered in dog are moist, colder than the ambient noses: the ability to detect heat temperature, and richly endowed with nerves— all of which suggests an ability to detect not Dogs’ noses just got a bit more amazing. Not just smell but also heat. only are they up to 100 million times more sensitive than ours, they can sense weak To test the idea, researchers at Lund thermal radiation—the body heat of University and Eötvös Loránd University trained mammalian prey, a new study reveals. The three pet dogs to choose between a warm find helps explain how canines with impaired (31°C) and an ambient-temperature object, sight, hearing, or smell can still hunt each placed 1.6 meters away. The dogs successfully. weren’t able to see or smell the difference between these objects. (Scientists could only “It’s a fascinating discovery,” says Marc Bekoff, detect the difference by touching the surfaces.) an ethologist (science of animal behavior), After training, the dogs were tested on their expert on canine sniffing, and professor skill in double-blind experiments; all three emeritus at the University of Colorado, successfully detected the objects emitting Boulder, who was not involved in the study. weak thermal radiation, the scientists reveal today in Scientific Reports. “[It] provides yet another window into the sensory worlds of dogs’ highly evolved cold Next, the researchers scanned the brains of noses.” thirteen (13) pet dogs of various breeds in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner while presenting the canines with objects emitting neutral or weak thermal radiation. The left somatosensory cortex in dogs’ brains, which delivers inputs from the nose, was more responsive to the warm thermal stimulus than to the neutral one. The scientists identified a cluster of fourteen (14) voxels (3D pixels) in this region of the dogs’ left hemispheres but didn’t find any such clusters in the right and none in any part of the dogs’ brains in response to the neutral An infrared photo of a golden in a stimulus. functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner reveals the cold temperature of a dog’s nose Together, the two experiments show that versus its glowing, warm body. dogs, like vampire bats, can sense weak hot Anna Balint spots and that a specific region of their brains is activated by this infrared radiation, the The ability to sense weak, radiating heat is scientists say. They suspect dogs inherited the known in only a handful of animals: black fire ability from their ancestor, the gray wolf, who beetles, certain snakes, and one species of may use it to sniff out warm bodies during a mammal, the common vampire bat, all of hunt. which use it to hunt prey. “The study is consistent with other research Most mammals have naked, smooth skin on that describes the combined dog nose and the tips of their noses around the nostrils, an

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The regulation (effective January 1, 2020) brain as a sophisticated platform for processing reads: a broad range of signals,” says Gary Settles, an emeritus professor of mechanical engineering RCW 16.08.110 at Pennsylvania State University, University (Revised Code of WA) Park, who has studied dogs’ sniffing abilities. Breed-based regulations. 1-1-20 He doubts, however, “that the dog rhinarium can distinguish patterns of hot and cold objects (1) A city or county may not prohibit the at a distance,” suggesting dogs’ thermal possession of a dog based upon its detection skills may not be useful for long breed, impose requirements specific to distance hunting. “[T]hat needs further study.” possession of a dog based upon its breed, or declare a dog dangerous or If nothing else, the work suggests the potentially dangerous based on its breed extraordinary skills of the Buck, who unless all of the following conditions are tracked prey “not by sight or sound or smell, met: but by some other and subtler sense” in Jack (a) The city or county has established London’s Call of the Wild, aren’t completely and maintains a reasonable process for fictional after all. exempting any dog from breed-based Virginia Morell, Posted in Plants & Animals regulations or a breed ban if the dog passes the American kennel club canine good citizen test or a reasonably equivalent canine behavioral test as determined by the city or county; (b) Dogs that pass the American kennel club canine good citizen test or a reasonably equivalent canine behavioral test are exempt from breed- based regulations for a period of at least two years; AKC Canine Good Citizen in (c) Dogs that pass the American Washington Breed-Based Legislation kennel club canine good citizen test or a reasonably equivalent canine In the state of Washington, a number of local behavioral test are given the jurisdictions enacted ordinances that prohibited opportunity to retest to maintain their or placed restrictions on specific breeds of exemption from breed-based dogs. The legislature found that a dog’s breed regulations; and is not inherently indicative of whether or not a (d) Dogs that fail the American kennel dog is dangerous and that the criteria for club canine good citizen test or a determining whether or not a dog is dangerous reasonably equivalent canine should be focused on the dog’s behavior. behavioral test are given the opportunity to retest within a Further, the legislature found that breed- reasonable period of time, as specific ordinances fail to address factors that determined by the city or county. cause dogs to become aggressive and place an undue hardship on responsible dog owners who provide proper socialization and training.

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dog already in isolation, the city's authorities said.

The move is the first reported case anywhere in the world of a government quarantining pets over the outbreak and was prompted by a positive test in the pet of an infected patient. The canine has been placed in quarantine for 14 days as a precaution but has no "relevant symptoms", Hong Kong officials said.

"Nasal and oral cavity samples tested weak positive for COVID-19," a government spokesman said without explaining why they (2) This section does not apply to the act tested the animal in the first place. He said it of documenting either a dog's breed or its was unclear whether the dog had actually physical appearance, or both, solely for contracted the virus or tested positive for low identification purposes when declaring a levels due to environmental contamination of dog dangerous or potentially dangerous. the dog's mouth and nose. (3) For the purpose of this section, "dog" means a domesticated member of the The animal was collected from the owner's family Canidae, specifically species Canus home on Wednesday after the 60-year-old lupus familiaris, and excludes non- woman was diagnosed with the contagion and domesticated members of the family placed in a hospital isolation ward. It would be Canidae and any hybrids thereof, closely monitored, undergo further tests and including but not limited to wolves, held in quarantine until it returned a negative coyotes, wolf-dog hybrids, and coyote- result, authorities said. dog hybrids. There is no evidence domestic animals such as dogs and cats can catch the virus or transmit it to humans but the department said all pets of infected people should be quarantined and tested for the virus for 14 days.

Yahoo.com 2-28-20

Hong Kong pets face coronavirus quarantine after dog tests positive All pets of people in Hong Kong infected with the coronavirus will be quarantined, with one

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Trail runner with broken leg rescued weird angle. Because he had no cell service, he knew he likely wouldn’t be rescued if he after crawling 10 hours in remote stayed put, he said. So, he crawled until just area of Olympic Peninsula, WA. after midnight, when he reached an area with service and called for help, he said. But that Joseph Oldendorf, a long-distance trail runner wasn’t the end of his journey. who broke his leg while traversing a remote Olympic Peninsula trail crawled for nearly “I had no idea how long it was going to be, seven hours on increasingly torn-up knees in and I knew that I was still probably six miles below-freezing temperatures to get to a place down trail. I stopped to lay down and stay where his cellphone had service. He then warm, thinking they might be there relatively crawled several more hours until rescuers soon but I was way too cold and there was no arrived. way I could do it without moving so I just decided to keep moving towards them” , “I had to crawl on all fours, and my knees — it’s a rocky, snowy, dirty, wet trail, and after a Rescuers found him at about 4:30 a.m. the while, my knees were just raw,” Oldendorf next morning, warmed him up and splinted his said. “So, I had the idea to put my shoes over ankle. Around 7 a.m., he was hoisted into a them so I would at least have some traction Coast Guard helicopter and flown to and a little bit of protection but they’re still Harborview Hospital where he was treated for really messed up.” hypothermia along with his broken leg. Oldendorf had been wearing “only light running clothes,” according to a Facebook post from Jefferson Search and Rescue.

“Trail running is a lightweight endeavor with little clothing and equipment available to a solo runner if something goes wrong,” the search- and-rescue agency wrote. “Carrying a charged cellphone, and displaying incredible grit and determination to self rescue, likely prevented more serious injury in this case.”

Oldendorf said the thought of his family kept him going. “I don’t want my family to hear I died in the wilderness,” he said. “I think it’d be unbearable.” Jerry Rule, a firefighter with the Brinnon Fire Department, stated that Oldendorf had been in a particularly remote and rugged part of the Olympic National Forest.

“Doesn’t take much to take you out of the up on those trails and by yourself,” said Oldendorf said he was about 12 miles into a Rule. “He’s a lucky guy.” 20-mile run on Duckabush Trail when he Christine Clarridge Seattle Times slipped on ice. The fall broke his leg near his ankle, and he saw his foot flopping at a

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KIBBLES & BITS by Susan Bulanda

Is it time to say “Goodbye” to your pet?

This is a tough topic for many people to deal with. It is charged with emotions that often cloud our ability to decide what to do. With veterinarian medicine as advanced as it is, we can keep our pets alive much longer than we could years ago, but to what end?

There are a few things that you need to consider when trying to decide if it is time to euthanize your pet or not.

1. Is your pet in pain? This is not always easy to determine since animals in general do not show pain until it is severe. The signs may be subtle and come on gradually as age and illnesses increase. Your veterinarian can help you determine what illnesses your pet may have, and how it impacts their life, but that will be a generalization because every animal is different. Some tolerate pain much better than others. In the case of birds, they may not show signs of illness until they are very sick.

It helps if you pay attention to your pet’s behavior. Do you notice that your pet does not move as well as before? Does your pet refuse to jump onto things whereas before they would fly through the air? Do they walk slower, run less, and are less active in general? Has their appetite and water consumption changed? Has their breathing changed, for example they pant more or sooner than before? Do they seem to hold part of their body still when they breathe? These are all signs of pain and/or illness.

2. Does your pet have difficulty keeping food or water down? Has their overall appetite decreased? Is your pet eating a normal amount of food but losing or gaining weight?

3. If your veterinarian suggests treatments, you have to determine what the outcome will be for your pet. Will the treatment cause pain and suffering? How long can you expect your pet to live after the treatments? Will your pet be hindered for the rest of its life because of the treatments? If the treatments are painful or cause suffering, such as a loss of appetite or physical difficulties, is it worth it for your pet? You also must consider the cost of treatments and weigh if they will help your pet or just prolong his suffering.

4. Has your pet’s toilet habits changed? A change in toilet habits can be a sign of dementia in a pet. A pet who cannot get up to go out or cannot control his bowels and bladder and will eliminate and lay in it, is a good sign that it is time to let them go. A pet that has abnormal eliminations, such as blood in either stools or urine, weak or strong urine, or who has trouble eliminating is a candidate for a serious evaluation. Has your pet’s stools and urine decreased or increased, yet they eat and drink the same amount? This of course depends on what your veterinarian determines the problem is.

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5. Does your pet act as if they are lost? Some will cry out as if they are calling, “Where are you?” Some pets may stand with their face in a corner and not be able to find their way out. Some will stare at walls or have a blank look in their eyes. Some may not recognize their family members. Some may wander around the house or yard and not seem to know where they are. A pet may not respond to commands that they always responded to before, even though they hear you. These can be signs of mental degeneration.

6. After all the considerations are evaluated, you must determine if the quality of your pet’s life is going to be better, tolerable or only prolong suffering.

7. The most difficult part of the decision, and perhaps the most important, is determining how much of your own emotions are playing a part in your decision making. Are you trying to keep your pet alive because you cannot tolerate the thought of losing your pet? Are you keeping your pet’s well being as the main decision maker? This is the most difficult part of the decision-making process, separating your emotions and feelings from what is good for your pet. The biggest fear that many people have is that they are not making the right decision. Or they feel that they are letting their pet down by giving up, that something more can be done. This is why it is important to go over the points in this article. We all hope for a miracle, but they rarely happen. Letting a pet go is sometimes the kindest thing we can do for them. It helps if you have a friend who is not emotionally involved that you can go over the situation with, to help you see what is going on.

I know that sometimes it is hard for me to make that decision. For this reason I talk to my veterinarian before my pets age and let them know what I want to do in the event that my pets get a terminal illness or injury. Even though we cannot foresee the future, it helps my veterinarian guide me when the time comes. This helped me with a 17 year old cat that I dearly loved. When I took her to the veterinarian, she was having a cardiac arrest. I could not say the words to tell my veterinarian to put her down. But he knew my wishes ahead of time. It made it just a bit easier for me to not have to say it.

Deciding to let a pet go is never easy. No one wants the grief and loss that it brings. We all know that it may take a long time to heal and get over the pain. I know because I have had to go through it many times. For me, I take comfort in knowing that my pets will be in Heaven waiting for me, that they are going to a better place. This is one reason why I wrote my book God’s Creatures which you can see on my website, www.sbulanda.com

We all must deal with the loss of a beloved pet in our own way. As our pets come into our lives and then leave us, one after the other, the loss-and decision-making process never gets easier. But as good stewards of our pets, it is up to us to do what is right for them, even if it means our loss. Doing this is the deepest and most unselfish kind of love.

SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 17

Once we lose our pets we have to deal with the grief. Everyone handles it in their own way. In the case of a pet who has suffered a prolonged illness, some people grieve for a while before the pet dies. In those cases it can make the actual loss less painful. If there was no time before losing a pet to grieve, the full emotion of grief will come on right away. The pain can at times feel like physical pain. There are many ways to handle your feelings. Talking to someone who understands how much a pet can mean to you is one way. Attending a grief counseling group can also help. Some people find that volunteering at a shelter or rescue group helps.

If you know that your pet is getting on in years, getting a new pet before the pet passes can help ease the loss for some people. Providing of course that the new pet isn’t going to stress or harm the resident pet. Some people find that writing about the lost pet helps or designing a photo album dedicated to the pet. These are just a few ideas about how to go through the grief. The main thing to keep in mind is that time does heal. We may never fully get over the loss of a pet, one particular pet means more to us than any others, but we can enjoy the fond memories and love that the pet has given us.

SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 18

SYNOPSIS Of March 5, 2020 Board Meeting NSDA Board of Directors

OFFICERS The Alliance is looking for qualified individuals Adam Kelly, President & CEO, MI interested in becoming an Evaluator. Interested [email protected] members should contact Program Manager Roy Pescador, Executive VP, Canada Kathy Adamle [email protected] [email protected] Julie Grinnell, Corporate Secretary, MI There are currently 1,582 subscribers to the [email protected] NSDA Newsletter. Norma Snelling, Chief Financial Officer, WA [email protected] Present NSDA membership stands at 462 members. DIRECTOR Sherry Scruggs, GA Progress is being made on the Wilderness Area [email protected] Cadaver Test and beta testing is expected to start shortly. FOUNDING MEMBERS— There will soon be a new feature on the NSDA Facebook page introducing the membership to K-9 Thor, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda, K-9 Board Members and Program Managers. Roo, Leslie Godchaux, Brian R. Hendrickson, Continental Kennel Club, Inc., K-9 River, K-9 The time period for accepting applications for Persha; Jan Thompson, K-9 Cali, Peggy Ann the Board of Directors has ended. There were Buchman; K-9 Geist four applications to fill the four open positions.

The next Board Meeting will take place by conference call on Thursday, April 2, 2020.

SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 19

THE LAST HOWL By Sue Wolff

Opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the National Search Dog Alliance.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic and people have panicked. They’re afraid they’ll run out of everything—groceries, medicines (especially since most of the prescription drugs are made in China), hardware, automotive supplies and so on and so on.

However you, as SAR professionals, should be sitting back with a smug smile on your face. You already have all you need to keep yourself and your dog supplied with essentials for at least 72 hours. And hopefully you’ve included the rest of your family in that disaster planning.

But are you doing all that you can to prevent the spread of coronavirus—or the flu for that matter?

Now more than ever it’s essential to abide by all the guidelines for sanitary living. We all know about washing our hands and not touching our face especially our eyes, nose and mouth. But are we sanitizing our phones, car door handles, steering wheel, computer key board, desk top, dog toys and dog leashes/collars?

According to one report, a dog belonging to a coronavirus sufferer in Hong Kong had contracted that strain of flu. The Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) tested to see whether the dog had been infected with the virus or if it has just been contaminated with it.

While the dog was not sickened by the disorder, the department “strongly advises” that pets of people infected with coronavirus are quarantined for 14 days.

Some Hong Kong residents, who are wearing face masks as protection, have put their dogs into masks also. However this is not necessarily recommended by veterinarians, may be an overreaction and unnecessarily stress the dog.

While it is still trusted that dogs and humans cannot transmit diseases to each other, viruses such as the coronavirus can exist on the canine’s fur much as it does on your phone. Therefore your dog –as well as you—need to stay away from crowds and public places where people may be carrying the virus but not yet showing signs of the illness.

As of March 13, 2019, the World Health Organization said in an email that, “currently, there is no evidence that pets such as dogs and cats have infected humans with Covid-19.”

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WANT A TEST IN YOUR AREA?

3–9 HANDLERS TESTING? Less than 10 tests? You may be eligible for up to $300 in grant money from NSDA to bring in an Evaluator(s). If you need a test, contact Rhonda Dyer at [email protected]

6 OR MORE HANDLERS TESTING? 10 or more tests? We may pay up to $500 in travel expenses for each Evaluator giving three or more tests. Invite your team or anyone in your area. If you need a regional test, contact Rhonda Dyer at [email protected]

Field Tests: $35.00 for members, $100.00 for non-members.

TESTS

2020 Topic Location Contact April 3-5 HRD, Area, Trailing, New Castle, PA Kimberly [email protected] Area/Lg Source HRD Grimm

June

Olympic 27-28 Land HRD Suzanne Elshult [email protected] Peninsula, WA

. Go to www.n-sda.org and check the top banner for “Testing”

SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 21

FREEBIE!

List your Tests, Training Seminars, and Conferences in the SAR Dog News at no cost to you

REACH OVER 1,580 SAR K-9 HANDLERS Contact Norma Snelling at: [email protected]

SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 22

The seminars listed below are not sponsored by NSDA. These seminars have not been reviewed by NSDA and their listing should not be construed as an endorsement or sanction. NSDA retains the right to not post seminars where we have heard complaints of animal abuse or excessive foul language.

TRAINING SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES

2020 Topic Location Contact HRD Level 1 Cardondale, 17-18 Coordinator [email protected] IL Clandestine 20-22 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org Graves

24-26 HRD Scenarios Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org Lost person 28 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] behavior 29-Apr Wall Doxy, NNCDS Seminar Coordinator www.nncds.org 3 MS April

3 K9 pre-test Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] SDONA SAR dog Bloomingto 3-5 Coordinator www.sdona.org 101 n, IL Detection dog Canon City, 3-5 Coordinator www.caninetrainingacademy.com seminar CO K-9 4-5 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] credentialing Advanced Walnut 9-11 techniques in Coordinator http://Detectionsciencesolutions.com Creek, CA HRD Basic cadaver 17 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] search K9 Detection New 17-19 Coordinator www.facebook.com/caninesearchinitiative seminar Hampshire Intermediate 18-19 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] cadaver search Clandestine 20-22 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org Graves Tracking and Underwood, 22-26 cadaver Coordinator [email protected] IN seminar HRD Scenarios 24-26 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org & intermediate SAR DOG NEWS March 2020 Page 23

26-May AMPWDA Spring Greenville, SC Coordinator www.ampwda.com/events.html 2 water HRD 26-May AMPWDA Natl Cloverdale, IN Coordinator www.ampwda.com/events.html 2 spring seminar OPCA Spring 27-28 Newport, OR Coordinator www.opca.com seminar Pittsburgh, 28-30 Blue Line K9 Coordinator www.bluelinek9training.com/registration PA May K9 disaster HRD 1-3 Victoria, BC Coordinator www.sardav.ca workshop Advanced cadaver 2-3 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] search NAPWDA Natl 3-7 Titusville, FL Coordinator www.napwda.com/event-calendar workshop IPWDA Graying 3-8 Grayling, MI Coordinator www.ipwda.org/events/php seminar Dick Staal Canon City, 5-10 foundation Coordinator https://www.caninetrainingacademy.com/dickstaalseminar CO tracking Dick Staal Canon City, 11-14 Coordinator https://www.caninetrainingacademy.com/dickstaalseminar advanced tracking CO Mass casualty Camp Dodge, 15-17 Coordinator www.K9sensus.org searching IA Maximize K9 15-17 Flagstaff, AZ Coordinator www.sdona.org performance Basic water 16-17 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] cadaver K9 Basic forensic 20-23 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org scenarios Forensic K9 HRD Whitewater, Christiane [email protected] 21-22 training CO Baigent https://form.jotform.com/71647028344154 workshop #1 Forensic K9 HRD Whitewater, Christiane [email protected] 23-24 training CO Baigent https://form.jotform.com/71647028344154 workshop #2 North Paw K9 28-31 Cortez, CO Errin Walker [email protected] SAR seminar Ground search 30-31 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] awareness June Tracking and 4-7 Canon City, CO Coordinator www.caninetrainingacademy.com trailing workshop

5 Basic tracking K9 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] Scent detect for 5-7 HRD, bomb, Cody, WY K. T. Irwin [email protected] narcotics SAR , 5-7 Topsham, ME Coordinator www.mesard.org IPWDA testing Intermediate 6-7 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] tracking K9

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June continued Allegheny Mtn 11-13 Champion, PA Coordinator https://mra2020con.amrg.info/ Rescue Conf. HRD foundations 12-14 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org large source

15-17 Basic K9 water Flagstaff, AZ Coordinator www.sdona.org

16-18 Burials, basic Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org HRD Land and 19-21 Cody, WY K. T, Irwin [email protected] Water for SAR Washington Ellensburg, 19-21 Coordinator [email protected] State SAR Conf. WA Locating the San Lis Obispo, 20 Coordinator www.slofist.org Dead CA K9 fundamentals 22-26 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org seminar Ground search 27-28 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] operations July 10 K9 pre-test Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected]

11-12 K9 credentialing Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] Four Corners 16-20 Dolores, CO Chuck Melvin [email protected] SAR Workshop Moss Landing, 17-19 Pay that Dog Coordinator www.k9behaviorconsortium.com/sealions/ CA Advanced water 24-26 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] cadaver search Basic air scent 31 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] K9 HRD workshop July TBA w/Teresa Lucas, IA Coordinator www.k9sensus.org/training-courses MacPherson August Intermediate air 1-2 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] scent Basic disaster 29-30 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] search September Ground search 12-13 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] operations Forensics, 13-16 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org advanced

15-16 HRD disaster Xenia, OH Coordinator www.thecfte.com CSAR 2020 Rhinelander, 20-25 Coordinator www.facebook.com/NewboldFire [email protected] seminar WI AMPWDA Natl 20-26 Cloverdale, IN Coordinator www.ampwda.com/events.html Fall seminar

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September continued Advanced 26-27 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] tracking K9 Historical grave 30-Oct 4 detection Rupert, ID Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events October Intermediate 1-2 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] disaster search Northstar search 2-6 Seymour, IN Coordinator www.nsk9ta.com/seminar & recovery Advanced disaster 3-4 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] search 6-8 Ft. Myers, FL Coordinator https://workingdogmagazine.com/conference/ training conf. SDONA crime 9-11 Flagstaff, AZ Coordinator www.sdona.org scene

12-14 Burials, advanced Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org

15-17 NSI K9 seminar Seymour, IN Coordinator www.nsk9ta.com/seminar HRD advanced 16-18 Lucas, IA Coordinator www.K9sensus.org scenarios Advanced air 17-18 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] scent K9 Ground search 24-25 Brazil, IN Coordinator [email protected] technician 30- San Macros, FACTS Level 1 Coordinator [email protected] Nov 1 TX 31- Herb Parsons Train the Trainer Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events Nov 2 Lake, TN November So. Cal K9 13-15 Idyllwild, CA Coordinator www.southerncak9seminar.com Seminar