SAR DOG NEWS
Published by the National Search Dog Alliance March 2021 Vol. 15 issue 3
Next Board Meeting Date: April 1, 2021 Contact Corporate Secretary, Julie Grinnell, at [email protected] for access to the meeting
Bucky Says REGULAR SAR DOG NEWS FEATURES
What do you call a dog that Page Bucky Says 1 does magic? Board Meeting dates 1
Board of Directors & Founding Members 2 A Labracadabrador Synopsis/March BOD Meeting 3
Kibbles & Bits: Part 2 Breed Registries 7 The Last Howl 17 Training, Seminars & Conferences 18
SAR DOG NEWS March 2021 Page 2
The President’s Corner page 3
NSDA’s Newly Certified Team page 4 NSDA Board of Directors Soresto linked to deaths page 5 Want a NSDA test in your area? page 4 How to have a field test OFFICERS Flea collars Roy Pescador, President & CEO, Canada After you buy your dog food page 6 [email protected] Safety measures Joseph Stacks, Executive VP, Lady Gaga Offering $500,000.00 page 8 [email protected] No questions asked Julie Grinnell, Corporate Secretary, MI Not Forgotten page 9 [email protected] Operation Volunteer Strong Brendan Fike, Chief Financial Officer, MI Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland page 10 [email protected] 804 working dogs protected Sherry Scruggs, Director, GA Sale Items page 11 [email protected] Pick of the Pack Book, decals, etc. Search for Missing Hiker Josh Hall page 12 Search suspended FOUNDING MEMBERS— Hiker rescued on Mt. Washington page 13 K-9 Thor, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda, K-9 Multiple teams searched Roo, Leslie Godchaux, Brian R. Hendrickson, Mock Avalanche Scenario Training page 14 Continental Kennel Club, Inc., K-9 River, K-9 Colorado Persha; Jan Thompson, K-9 Cali, Peggy Ann How to file an Avalanche Report page 15 Buchman; K-9 Geist 2021 Avalanche Deaths page 16
statistics
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The President’s Corner By Roy Pescador
Hello readers.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers that make NSDA run s smoothly as it does. This organization would not exist without your time and effort. I also wanted to give a special thanks to our Co-Editors Norma Snelling and Sue Wolff. It takes a tremendous amount of energy and dedication to produce such a wonderful product monthly. Thank you, ladies.
Our newsletter has over 1,600 subscribers and a multitude of others who download from the NSDA website. Soon on the horizon, NSDA will have new podcasts. Our educational material is being increased and we will be utilizing other forms of media to convey information to our members and the search dog community.
The NSDA standards are currently in review while the Wilderness Cadaver beta testing is nearing its final stage of review. As COVID-19 restrictions change, perhaps we will have more opportunities to beta test the Urban Trailing standards.
It is our intention to increase NSDA's visibility across the Social Media platforms. If you are interested in helping NSDA with its Social Media visibility, please review the article regarding moderator recruitment.
Synopsis March 4, 2021 Board Meeting
The updated Covid-19 Certification Extension letter has been posted on the NSDA website homepage.
An online, Podcast-based conference is being planned for late fall.
Podcast program development is progressing. Guests are being confirmed and the first episode will be ready soon.
There are currently 1,639 subscribers to the NSDA Newsletter.
NSDA Membership stands at 440 members.
The next Board Meeting will take place by video conference on Thursday, April 1, 2021.
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NSDA Newly Certified Team
MONTANA Keagan Zoellner and K-9 Cleo Our dogs appreciate Avalanche/Ski Patrol being used for SAR
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).
Field Tests: $35.00 for members, $100.00 for non-members.
Check our website at www.n-sda.org. Look at the top banner for Evaluators. Scroll down by discipline and locate an evaluator near you. They may know of other handlers in your area that also want to test and put together a group.
Please be aware that testing may not be available in all areas of the United States. Check with your local authorities as to requirements for face mask, social distancing and number of persons in a group before planning a certification field test.
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SORESTO LINKED TO ANIMAL DEATHS
A new report published jointly by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and USA Today, links a popular flea collar brand to nearly 1,700 animal deaths in the U.S. Soresto, a common flea and tick collar for dogs and cats, has allegedly been tied to thousands of pet deaths, tens of thousands of animal injuries, and thousands of human illnesses, the report stated, citing documents from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The collars excrete pesticide to hopefully keep pets pest-free for up to eight months without harming them. However, some pet owners have pointed to the collars as the reason their dogs have suffered from lethargy, loss of motor functions, skin problems, and seizures.
Since Soresto collars — which are developed by Bayer and now sold by Elanco — were introduced in 2012, the EPA has received incident reports of at least 1,698 pet deaths linked to the collars but has not issued a warning about any Soresto products, according to the report. Through June 2020, the EPA documents reportedly show there were more than 75,000 reported incidents related to the collars, 1,000 of which involved human harm. When reached for comment about the report's findings, the EPA provided the following statement.
"Under the Biden-Harris Administration EPA has returned to its core mission, which includes protecting our pets' health. We take every incident reported seriously and review these data to see whether action is necessary. EPA encourages pet owners to read the entire label before using the pesticide product and follow all directions carefully, including monitoring your pet after application to see if side effects occur. If side effects develop, the label tells the consumer to consult the pet's veterinarian immediately."
There is no established link between death and exposure to the active ingredients contained in Soresto. It is critically important to understand that a report is not an indication of cause. The numbers referenced in the original article represent the number of reports received and do not reflect causality. So, if a dog were to be wearing a collar and experience any sort of adverse event, the collar would be mentioned in the report. Drawing a causal link from individual incident reports is misleading. Since its initial approval in 2012, more than 25 million Soresto collars have protected dogs and cats in the U.S. from fleas and ticks. “While the article itself doesn't have great statistical information, I do feel that maybe the safety studies should be looked at or perhaps some new safety studies should be done," says Elizabeth Trepp, DVM in an email. Sources: yahoo.com, Daily Paws, People
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After You Buy the Dog Food
After you purchase your dog food, it is important to remember that, like a loaf of bread, just because it comes in a bag and has an expiration date a year or so away, does not mean it lasts on your home shelf for that long. The expiration is how long the food is good for BEFORE it is opened, while it is still in an oxygen barrier bag. As soon as you open the bag, the food is exposed to oxygen and begins to degrade. Natural foods do not contain heavy, toxic chemical preservatives and must be treated how you would treat your own natural foods.
DO: • Feed the food within 30-45 days of opening the bag. • Throw away what you do not use by that time. • KEEP THE BAG (which includes the barcode, expiration date and batch code). • Store the food in an airtight container (preferably still in the original bag inside the airtight container). • Store the food in a cool and dry place. • Rinse the container between EVERY use (oils that have perforated your container eventually go rancid and contaminate new food). • If the bag of food you purchase does not fit in your container, then line the food bin with an airtight bag. Pour in what WILL fit and keep the rest either in its original bag, tightly sealed in a cool, dry place until it will fit in the bin. OR (better yet) put the remainder of the food in zip lock bags in your freezer; remove them as needed (making sure to cut the barcode, batch code and expiration date off the original bag and tape it onto a storage bag). OR purchase smaller bags (you may spend more per pound but you spend less at the vet because the health effects of eating rancid food are not good).
DO NOT: • Do not leave the bag open and exposed to air after opening it. • Do not store the food in the sunlight. • Do not let the food get wet and if it does get wet, throw it away. • Do not keep the food past expiration even if you do not open it. • Do not throw the bag away. Even if you store the food in an airtight container, you MUST keep the batch code. • Do not pour in your new food before the old food is COMPLETELY gone unless you pour out the old food and put it ON TOP OF the new food. Chelsea Kent workingdogMAGAZINE 2-22-21
MARCH 23 is NATIONAL PUPPY DAY
Did you know ten minutes of petting a dog lowers people’s levels of the
stress hormone cortisol?
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KIBBLES & BITS by Susan Bulanda
Editor’s Note: The following article pertains to pure bred dogs but is not intended to exclude any qualified dog from SAR work.
The following is the sec part in a series of six articles about breeding dogs. Note that these articles are based on my years of experience, my opinion and that I do not intend to refer to any individual. Please read the entire six articles to glean a full understanding of breeding.
February: Part I The Bitch May: Part IV Where to Begin March: Part II Registries June: Part V The puppies April: Part III Types of Breeders July: Part VI The stud and breeding
Part Two
Understanding registries is important because who a dog is registered with will give you a clue as to its legitimacy. There are a few types of registries.
1. Nationally recognized registries. These are established organizations that register purebred dogs. In the United States it would be the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club. In some cases, there are breed registries that are legitimate. The way to determine if a registry is recognized is if other countries accept a dog registered with the organization.
2. Non-recognized registries are those that anyone can establish. In the United States there are registries that cater to puppy mill breeders so that the AKC cannot shut down puppy mill operations.
3. Breed registries are those that are recognized but are designed to register certain types of working dogs. An example would be some of the working stock dog registries.
4. Anything goes registries are those that will register any type of animal for any reason.
Most people who own a pet dog feel that their dog is worth more if it is registered. They only understand that the dog has “papers.” They do not understand the value or uselessness of the papers. The non-recognized registries have used this lack of understanding to legitimize dogs by giving them “papers” that are not recognized by any national or internationally recognized registry.
It is important to note that no registry can guarantee the quality of a dog or puppy. They can only guarantee that, as reported to them, the records have been accurately kept. If the breeder owns both the sire and dam, they can list any dog as the sire and dam of a litter. For example, I had a client who made an appointment for training and told me that he had a Rottweiler.
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When I questioned him, he assured me that he had AKC papers. When his breeder found out that he was coming to me for training, he admitted that the dog was a Rottweiler/German Shepherd cross, the result of an accidental breeding. Yet the dog had recognized registration papers. The real ethics depends on the honesty of the breeder.
Ethical breeders will only register their dogs with recognized registries.
LADY GAGA OFFERING $500,000 for the RETURN OF HER 2 BULL DOGS “NO QUESTIONS ASKED”
Editor’s note: At that time, no mention was made of a reward for those who shot the dogwalker.
Lady Gaga’s father has now urged the public to help police catch the “creeps” who shot the dog walker. “Help us catch these creeps.” And Mr. Germanotta, added: “Horrible people in LA. Shooting someone in order to steal dogs is wrong.”
A dogwalker was shot four times in the chest before two men stole two of the singer’s three French bulldogs, according to multiple reports.
New security camera video obtained by TMZ shows the violence unfolding. The footage, captured by cameras at a neighboring home, shows a white car pulling up behind the dog walker and two men jumping out of it. The sounds of a gun being cocked can be heard and one of them men said, “Give it up.” The dog walker put up a fight, screamed for help and shouted for one of the dogs, Koji, before he was shot in the chest and crumpled to the ground. The two thieves then each grabbed a dog and jumped into the backseat of the car with the third dog running back to the dog walker. LAPD public information officer Jeff Lee says that investigators are treating the case as “assault with a deadly weapon.”
A spokesperson said that French bulldogs are currently in high demand in Los Angeles and a valuable breed. Numerous other thefts of the breed have been reported in the city and police do not believe that the pop star was specifically targeted.
Justin Vallejo, INDEPENDENT
Update: According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a woman brought the dogs to LAPD's Olympic Community Police Station Friday and Gaga's representatives were on hand to confirm they were the singer's pets. The woman's identity and the location where the animals were found will remain confidential due to the active criminal investigation and for her safety, police said.
It's unclear how the woman came to be in possession of the dogs, but law enforcement sources told TMZ that they believe she's a Good Samaritan who was not involved in the theft of the animals.
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Not forgotten': 150 missing Tennessee children recovered in Operation Volunteer Strong A coordinated effort led to the recovery of 150 missing children across Tennessee, the state's Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Planning for "Operation Volunteer Strong" began in fall 2020 when 240 children were identified statewide. The operation launched on January 4, 2021 with series of "two-week blitzes" in East, Middle and West Tennessee. Those led to the recovery of 150 of those children, the TBI said in a news release. At least five of the children were potential victims of human trafficking, according to the release. Cases are still open for each of them. One child was rescued during a kidnapping investigation, resulting in the arrest of a suspect. The operation was a joint effort with the TBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provided research and analytical support during the operation. “Operation Volunteer Strong is a great example of how working together, we can find missing children and get them the help they need to move forward,” said John Clark, NCMEC’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re thrilled to see so many missing children recovered in Tennessee, and we thank all the agencies involved for their dedication to child protection.”
While the formal Tennessee operation has concluded, efforts to find the remaining 90 missing children identified continue, TBI spokesperson Josh DeVine said. Most of the children recovered will receive support from the state's Department of Child Services (DCS), including possible placement into foster homes, group homes or other specialized care, the release said. Hundreds of children go missing every month in Tennessee, whether as the result of runaway situations, custody battles, kidnappings or other circumstances, said TBI Director David Rausch. "Every single one of them deserves a fighting chance, and that’s why they also deserve our best work to help them," Rausch said.
Similar operations in Ohio, Georgia, Indiana and other states succeeded in taking more than 440 children “out of harm’s way” in 2020, Virginia's Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen said in a news release following the recovery of 27 children in his state in November 2020. In October 2020, the U.S. Marshals announced the recovery of 45 missing children across Ohio during Operation Autumn Hope resulting in 179 arrests. It was the second such mission in the Buckeye State, after Operation Safety Net, , which led to the discovery of 25 missing children in less than three weeks in August 2020. Also in 2020, Operation Not Forgotten in Georgia led to the recovery of 39 children in August and Operation Homecoming in September found eight missing children in Indiana.
Sources: Nashville Tennessean, USA Today, Yahoo.com
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas
The Warhawk Nation came together to protect their own February 13th,transporting 804 military working dogs indoors in preparation for severe winter weather in the Alamo Region.
“The military working dogs and the Transportation Security Administration working dogs are normally housed in outdoor kennel runs on both JBSA- Lackland and at JBSA-Chapman Training Annex,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Kowalski, squadron commander. “The 341st TRS has the capacity of housing more than 1,200 dogs in our facilities.”
To protect the dogs during the extreme weather, members of the 341st TRS came together with their mission partners, active-duty military members, students and civilians to move the dogs from their outdoor kennel runs into warm buildings in the squadron’s training area.
The team put together crates, moved food, set up walking tracks and provided food and drinks in order to get the K-9 warriors indoors in anticipation of this week’s cold conditions, Kowalski said.
“We brought the dogs in once the temperatures dipped below freezing,” he said. “At that point, their water bowls would be frozen, and our ability to clean their kennels would be decreased and unsafe.”
Once all the dogs were moved, the job was not over. Throughout the week, each dog was taken out of its crate for walks and bathroom breaks every four hours, or as needed, Kowalski said.
“We have canine handlers on shift 24-hours-a-day keeping the dogs happy, warm and fed,” he said.
The operation will continue until it is safe to move the canines back to their outdoor kennels. “We plan to move the dogs back to the normal kennel configuration once the temperatures are over 40° F and our teams can sanitize and disinfect the kennels to receive the dogs,” Kowalski said. Lori A. Bultman, 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs / February 18, 2021
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CHOOSING A NEW SAR PUPPY? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Decal for car windows 4” x 4” $1.25 each o $2.00 for two
Send your check for $16.00 made out to NSDA to: Norma Snelling P.O. Box 3100, Sequim, WA 98382 [email protected] SIZE ?? Sticker for car windows $2.00 each
200 pages
$9.00 each
SAR DOG NEWS March 2021 Page 12
The Search for Missing Hiker Josh Hall
Search and rescue crews in Boulder County Colorado have conducted an extensive search in heavy winter conditions for the 27-year-old missing hiker, Josh Hall, who was reported as overdue on the evening of Wednesday, February 3. He departed from the Hessie Trailhead near Nederland where his vehicle was later found. His cell phone last pinged near the Devil’s Thumb Trail/Diamond Lake cut-off.
After multiple days of searching, they made the difficult decision to suspend ground search efforts, until such time as new information surfaces, or until snow melt occurs, increasing safety and searching becomes more feasible.
Josh Hall
Searchers have checked accessible cabins and mine shafts along the 4th of July Road and along the Devils Thumb Lake Trail below the Diamond Lake cutoff, that they were physically able to reach.
The following organizations have assisted in this search: Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Alpine Rescue Team, Larimer County Search and Rescue, Diamond Peaks Ski Patrol, Front Range Rescue Dogs, Nederland Fire Protection District, Boulder Emergency Squad, Colorado Search and Rescue Association, Air Force Resource Coordination Center, Flight for Life Colorado, and the City of Boulder Watershed.
Approximately 70 rescuers have assisted in this effort between Wednesday night to Saturday evening, which resulted in more than 650 person hours of searching.
Posted By: Boulder County February 8, 2021
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Lost Hiker Rescued on Mount Washington
A 63-year-old Brookline, Mass., man was reported missing to U.S. Forest Service personnel at 11:00 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 20, when he failed to return from a summit hike. Avalanche danger on Saturday was listed as moderate with the possibility of an increase in danger to considerable overnight.
Mount Washington Valley Ski Patrol found him on Sunday at approximately 2:45 a.m. on a steep, icy slope above an area known as Lunch Rocks in Tuckerman Ravine. The subject of the search had taken a long, sliding fall down Right Gully after taking a wrong turn off Lion Head Trail. The microspikes he wore on his mountaineering boots didn’t provide adequate traction during his descent, and he suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the fall.
However, he was able to walk out assisted by rescuers from the Mountain Rescue Service, Androscoggin Valley Search & Rescue, Mount Washington Valley Ski Patrol, U.S. Forest Service and Appalachian Mountain Club.
microspikes Temperatures on the summit were -6 degrees with northwest winds blowing at 35-50 mph at the time he was found.
The climber had hiking and snow climbing experience but didn’t have crampons, an ice ax, a headlamp or a flashlight. He did have adequate clothing to survive his long wait for rescue. In the Mount Washington Avalanche Center's avalanche forecast for Saturday, Feb. 20, it was stated, "A sketchy mix of hard, icy surfaces and poorly bonded, reactive wind slabs exists in prime avalanche terrain. Long sliding falls on the icy surface and new wind slabs top the list of hazards today. If venturing into steep terrain, bring an ice ax and crampons (not just microspikes) in addition to your beacon, shovel and probe."
It is critical for people hiking, climbing and skiing on Mount Washington to understand the variability of surface condition. Winter visitors to the White Mountain National Forest are encouraged to read the avalanche forecast in addition to the higher summits forecast posted at mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org and mountwashington.org. Conway Daily Sun, Feb 24, 2021
Why do we wear green on St. Patrick’s Day? Leprechauns are actually one reason you’re supposed to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day – or Risk Getting Pinched! The tradition is tied to folklore that says wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, which like to pinch anyone they can see.
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Mock Avalanche Scenario Training
SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– The pandemic has strained training efforts for first responders. With many now vaccinated, search and rescue crews in the High Country finally got a rare and timely opportunity to come together for a major mock rescue mission.
“Avalanche rescue is really workforce intensive, and it rehires a lot of people, so this is a great opportunity today to bring together a bunch of teams and for us to demonstrate what we’re doing,” said Dale Atkins, Technical Specialist for the Alpine Rescue Team. On Thursday March 11, 2021, teams from Rio Blanco to Lake County, gathered at Vail Pass for a mock scenario involving multiple buried victims. A snowmobiler and two skiers. “The golden rule when traveling in avalanche country is to only expose one person at a time to the danger,” Atkins continued, “Well, this year that rule hasn’t been followed. We’re seeing more and more accidents where more and more people are involved.
There have been 11 deaths so far this season in Colorado. Just one below the state’s record year. Many of the cases involved multiple burials and most involved experienced skiers. While the snowpack has settled over the last few weeks, the incoming storm could reverse the progress. “A weak layer that is healing can also wake back up, and what I mean by that is if we get a big storm… it can re-awaken those weak layers. Just by the sheer mass of and bulk of a lot of snow onto the snowpack, it can overwhelm it,” said Atkins. While rescuers have many tools at their disposal, one of the most reliable is the four-legged team members.
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“For them, it’s all a game of hide and seek, right? It’s all fun for them,” said Doug Lesh with Summit County Search and Rescue which operates under the statutory authority of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. . Lesh and his pup, Keena arrived on scene and she went straight to work. It took her just a few minutes to locate the scent of the buried victim below the snow. “The goal of using the dogs is not to replace beacons or RECCOs, but to use when those pieces of equipment aren’t available or in conjunction with those pieces of equipment,” said Lesh. The mock debris field, while large, can’t compare to the size of avalanches that have claimed lives this year. “As we look at this avalanche behind me, it’s really impressive looking and it’s been staged but I would like people to realize that this area that looks like an avalanche is actually very tiny. The typical avalanche that buries someone in the backcountry is more than 100 yards across. We’re typically looking in an area the size of at least a couple of football fields,” said Atkins. It’s the kind of training they haven’t been able to previously do prior to vaccines. “Now it gives us a chance to do a little practice and to do a little meet and greet, so when we show up on an avalanche rescue, we already know the rescuers that are there. That’s going to make our job easier and faster.” All members of Colorado Search and Rescue are volunteers and the equipment they use to exercise missions is all funded through donations. Whether it’s directly, or through the purchase of a hunting or fishing license. Source: CBS4
Contact your local Avalanche Center if you are involved in an avalanche. Contact the National Avalanche Center if there is no local center. Official avalanche accident reports are produced when individuals are critically injured or killed in an avalanche. Please document and report non- critical encounters as well. Please contact [email protected] for more information about industry statistics and U.S. Avalanche Fatality Reporting.
Report the date, State, Location, numbers caught, buried and/or killed
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2021 AVANCHE DEATHS Statistics are from Avalanche.org. Avalanche.org is a partnership between the American Avalanche Association (A3) and the US Forest Service National Avalanche Center
Date State Location Description Killed 4 snowmobilers caught, 1 buried, 1 buried and
02/27 ID Tiger Peak, north of Burke killed 1 Peak 9,975 (aka 25 Short), Grant Teton †
02/22 WY National Park 1 backcountry tourer caught and killed 1 Near Sherman Peak, Southeast of
02/20 ID Pocatello 1 snowmobiler, caught, buried, and killed 1 Near Castle Lake, Ruby Mountains, 2 snowmobilers caught, 1 buried and killed, 1
02/20 NV Southeast of Elko injured 1
02/19 ID Smiley Creek Drainage, Smoky Mountains 1 snowmobiler caught and killed 1
02/18 WY Togwotee Pass, WY 1 backcountry snowboarder caught and killed 1 Squaw Creek Drainage, Southeast of 8 snowmobilers caught, 7 partially buried, 1 buried
02/17 WY Alpine, WY and killed 1 West of Ruby Mountain, southeast of 2 snowmobilers caught, 1 partially buried, 1 buried
02/16 CO Rand and killed 1 Pumphouse Lake, southwest of Rollins 1 snowmobiler caught, partially buried-critical, and
02/14 CO Pass killed 1
02/14 MT Beehive Basin, north of Big Sky Montana 2 split boarders caught, 1 partially buried and killed 1 Near Mount Trelease, north of Loveland 1 backcountry snowboarder caught, partially buried
02/14 CO Pass critical, killed 1 Knox Creek, Salmon la Sac area, near Cle †
02/08 WA Elum Lake 2 snow bikers caught, 1 buried and killed 1 7 backcountry tourers caught, 1 partially buried, 2
02/06 UT Wilson Glade, Mill Creek Canyon buried, 4 buried and killed 4 †
02/06 MT Wounded Buck Creek, Swan Range 5 snowmobilers caught, 1 buried and killed 1 Marvin’s West, East Vail backcountry
02/04 CO southeast of Vail 2 side country skiers caught, 1 buried and killed 1 2 backcountry tourers caught, 1 partially buried, 1
02/03 CA Etna Summit, west of Etna buried and killed 1
02/02 AK Bear Mountain, Chugach State Park 3 climbers caught, buried, and killed 3 The Nose, Middle Fork Mineral Creek 4 backcountry tourers caught, 1 partially buried-
02/01 CO southeast of Ophir critical, 3 buried and killed 3 Ammonoosuc Ravine, north of Mount †
02/01 NH Monroe 1 backcountry skier caught, buried, and killed 1
01/30 UT Squaretop, Park City Ridgeline 1 side country skier caught, buried, and killed 1
01/08 UT Dutch Draw, Park City Ridgeline 1 side country rider caught, buried, and killed 1
12/26 CO First Creek, north of Berthoud Pass 1 backcountry skier caught, buried, and killed 1 North Face of Battleship, southeast of
12/19 CO Ophir 2 backcountry skiers caught, buried, and killed 2
12/18 CO Near Ohio Pass, Anthracite Range 1 backcountry skier caught, buried, and killed 1
12/18 WY Near Sheep Pass, Salt River Range 1 snowmobiler caught, buried and killed 1
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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.
Recently the following appeared in newspapers and on TV stations nationwide:
A Texas dog owner is now facing charges after her animal mauled a 3- year-old girl at a restaurant, leaving the child with severe face injuries that may require plastic surgery to repair. In charging papers, a Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigator wrote that the dog accused in the attack had previously bitten two other people in separate incidents.
Can you imagine the reaction if the headlines had read, “SAR DOG MAULS CHILD”? Not only would people be scared and SAR dogs would get a bad rep but you and possibly your trainer and SAR team could end up in court. All the more reasons for obedience training and socializing your canine.
Many of SAR K-9s are large breed dogs i.e. retrievers, GSDs, etc. and need to have good manners. No jumping up on people. Obedience to commands such as sit and stay. Friendliness with other dogs not just the ones in their SAR team pack.
Before training starts, let the dogs mingle and play. Not only does this work off excess energy, it also socializes them.
Now that the dogs have worked off their first excitement, do obedience training first. The dogs are too tired after field work to concentrate on obedience.
There are many exercises to train obedience but I have found this one to be very effective at teaching both socialization and obedience. Line all handlers in a straight-line approximately three (3) feet apart facing forward with their dogs at a sit/stay. The first h handler/K-9 team on the right end of the line starts with their dog at a heel and weaves in and out between all others. The stationary teams must not move or acknowledge the team doing the weaving.
Bottom Line: SAR dogs need to be friendly and well behaved so that children—and endangered adults—will not fear them but will be comforted by them.
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Check with the Coordinator of the seminar to see if it has been cancelled, postponed or the date changed due to the coronavirus virus. Previously cancelled tests have been removed from our list but others may have been cancelled after our publication date.
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. Reach over 1,640 SAR K-9 handlers, list your tests, training seminars, and conferences in the SAR Dog News. Contact Norma Snelling at: [email protected]
TESTS
2021 Topic Location Contact
May
La Mesa, NM [email protected] Robert Noziska 7 Trailing III
Kelowna, BC [email protected] Roy Pescador 29-30 Land HRD
TRAINING SEMINARS AND CONFERENCES
2021 Topic Location Contact March Ark-La-Tex K9 14-19 Scottsville, TX Coordinator http://sfdk9sar.org/ seminar Human scent K9 Tallahassee, https://scentevidencek9.com/event/scent-discriminate- 15-18 Coordinator training FL k9-training-march-15-18/ Large area 17 Zoom Coordinator https://www.k9sensus.org/events-1 search strategy Working Dog https://www.workingdogmagazine.com/virtual- 23-24 St. Louis, MO Coordinator Training Conf. conference/ Nat Network K9 28-Apr 2 detection Clinton, LA Coordinator https://www.nncds.org/
April AMPWDA 4-9 St. Louis, MO Coordinator http://www.ampwda.com/LE-2021.pdf Police K9 conf.
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April continued K9 workout https://www.k9sensus.org/events/k9-workout- 16-18 Lucas, IA Coordinator weekend weekend-ia-april-2021-date-may-change Intermediate Collierville, 16-18 Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events HRD TN Ground search 17-18 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ operations AMPWDA trail Cloverdale, 18-24 Coordinator http://www.ampwda.com/fees.html & air scent IN HRD land 19-20 Wooster, OH Coordinator https://thecfte.com/workshops/ beginner Human remains 19-23 St. Louis, MO Coordinator http://www.ampwda.com/hrd-2021.pdf detection HRD land 22-24 Wooster, OH Coordinator https://thecfte.com/workshops/ intermediate Basic track/trail 23 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ for K9s Western Caro- Cullowhee, 23-25 lina HRD Coordinator [email protected] www.wcu.edu NC seminar Intermediate 24-25 Track/trail for Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ K9s NPBA 2021 McHenry, 24-29 Coordinator www.npba.com Spring training MD Clandestine https://www.k9sensus.org/events/hrd-dog-clandestine- 28-May 2 graves and Lucas, IA Coordinator graves-historic-burials-ia-spring-2021 burials May 14 K9 pretest Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ K9 credential 15-16 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ test 19-20 HRD Games Lockport, NY Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events Basic land 21 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ cadaver for K9s Disaster/crime 21-23 Aurora, OH Coordinator https://www.sdona.org/events.html scene search Intermediate 22-23 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ cadaver for K9s Blueline K9 25-27 St. Louis, MO Coordinator www.bluelinek9training.com training conf. Clandestine Montpelier, 26-30 Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events graves and tech VT
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June Muskatatuck Open K9 Deanna 4-6 training [email protected] Training Lazowski center, IN Nosework on https://www.k9sensus.org/events/nosework-on-the- 5-7 Luca, IA Coordinator the farm farm-summer-2020 Intro water 12-13 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ cadaver search HRD dog, water https://www.k9sensus.org/events/hrd-dog-water-work- 16-19 Lucas, IA Coordinator work with-lisa-higgins-ia-summer-2021
17-18 HRD land Wooster, OH Coordinator https://thecfte.com/workshops/ advanced Locating the San Luis Mark [email protected] 19 Dead Obispo, CA Calcagno [email protected] Clandes. And 21-25 Seattle, WA Coordinator www.hrdspecializedk9.com/events cold cases Advanced air 26-27 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ scent for K9s July Detection K9 https://www.k9sensus.org/events/detection-k9-trainer- 11-15 trainer Lucas, IA Coordinator fundamentals-training fundamentals Advanced water 16-18 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ cadaver search HRD https://www.k9sensus.org/events/hrd-advanced- 22-24 Lucas, IA Coordinator intermediate scenarios-sept-2021 Ground search 24-25 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ technician August https://www.k9sensus.org/events/hrd-workshop-with- 13-15 HRD workshop Lucas, IA Coordinator teresa-macpherson-ia-2021 North Penn K9 27-29 Morris, PA Coordinator https://www.northerntierk9.org/events Seminar Advanced land 28-29 Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ cadaver search September HRD advanced https://www.k9sensus.org/events/hrd-advanced- 10-12 Lucas, IA Coordinator scenarios scenarios-sept-2021 Calif. SAREX K9 Napa/Solano, 10-12 Coordinaator https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaSAREX/ track CA 24 K9 pretest Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/
25-26 K9 credentialing Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ October HRD workout https://www.k9sensus.org/events/k9-workout- 1-3 Lucas, IA Coordinator weekend weekend-ia-fall-2021 Advanced 2-3 track/trail for Brazil, IN Lillian Hardy [email protected] http://www.in.gov/dhs/ K9s
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October continued
Old Dominion & Appomattox, Coordinator http://www.olddominionsar.com 3-8 Sumner Co EMA VA
3-8 CSAR 2021 Jackson’s Coordinator www.nasdak9.org conference Gap, AL NSI K9 seminar, 13-17 Seymour, IN Coordinator www.nsik9ta.org/seminar many topics Advanced HRD Mineral 14-17 Coordinator [email protected] K9 workshop Wells, TX November Area search 5-7 Clinton, IL Coordinator https://www.sdona.org/events.html skills seminar HRD scenarios 12-14 Tampa, FL Coordinator https://www.sdona.org/events.html and skills So. California K9 12-14 Idyllwild, CA Coordinator www.southerncak9seminar.com seminar