SAR News Published by the National Search Dog Alliance March 2016 Vol. 10, No. 3

photo by Terry Crooks

Article page Bucky says 2016 BOD Meeting Dates 2 PODCASTS 2 There are 3 kinds of : NSDA Joins K-9 SAR Alliance 2 A Contest for Members 3 Hero Dog Award Voting 3 One learns by listening, Do You Live Near Burbank, CA? 3 One learns by watching, NSDA Testing Passed – California 4 One learns by peeing on A Dog’s Purpose, According to a 6 yr Old 4 the electric fence to find NSDA Tests & All Agency Seminars 5 Forensic Odorology 7 out for themselves Mammoth Mt. Avalanche Patrol Team Tested 8

Book Review: K9 Fraud 9

Kibbles and Bits: Aussies & Cattle Dogs 10

State Legislation: HR Possession 14 Skier Located by K-9 16 The Officer and Harley 16 The Last Howl: New SAR K-9 Handlers 17

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 2

2016 Board Meeting Dates April 7 May 5 June 2 Contact Secretary, Sherry Scruggs (sherryscruggs@n- sda.org) for the call in number for the meetings.

NSDA BOARD AGREES TO JOIN THE NATIONAL CANINE SEARCH AND NSDA PODCASTS RESCUE ALLIANCE (NCSARA) The March 15, 2016, PODCAST featured speaker will be Whitney LaRuffa, a long NSDA President Susan Fleming met with NASAR distance hiker and backpacker with 17 years of CEO Chris Boyer and the Presidents of NASDN, experience. He has through-hiked the SARDUS, ARDA and SDONA on February 26-28, Appalachian Trail, served two seasons as an 2016, to discuss the feasibility of several national Appalachian Trail ridge-runner, and hiked the canine SAR organizations working together to John Muir Trail, Wonderland Trail, Timberline improve training, evaluation and evaluators for Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail. He has served as canine search and rescue. All decisions will be president of ALDHA-west (American Long made to become a reliable resource to find Distance Hiking Association-West) and served missing persons. as a planning member of the Pacific Crest Trail Days. He has backpacked with two trail dogs, The first step was to form the National Canine Erwin and Karluk. Search and Rescue Alliance and each president In this PODCASt, Whitney shares his vast was asked to take the Memorandum of knowledge of all things related to backpacking Understanding (MOU) to his/her board to discuss with your dog. There is even more information and decide to join, or not. At the March 3, 2016, on his website at NSDA Board of Directors meeting NSDA decided http://www.allgoodsk9adventures.com which to sign the MOU. has sections on trip reports, tips and techniques, gear reviews (human and dog), NCSARA will be meeting via teleconference talks, sponsors, and his blog. quarterly and one annual meeting will be held in person. Other canine SAR organizations will be This PODCAST will be released March 1, 2016. invited to join in the future but, for now, groundwork is being laid for the fledgling You can listen (and subscribe) to the Search organization. Dog PODCAST through iTunes and also find the PODCAST on Podbean at www.saroc.podbean.com. Please send questions, feedback and suggestions to Why can’t a dog dance? [email protected] And the podcasts stay up indefinitely. He has two left feet

Stay tuned. Eva Briggs

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 3

MAXWELL

Hero Dog Applicant for 2016 and A NSDA Charity Partner CONTEST for NSDA MEMBERS

Tell us what you have done to represent K-9 Search and Rescue in your community in 2016. Searches, Safety Fairs, Schools, clubs or service organization presentations or anything else where you provided K-9 SAR information or service. Give us the name of the service, the date and the city and state location.

First Prize: 1 year free NSDA membership Second Prize: A NSDA logo T shirt Third Prize: A NSDA logo ball cap

Entries must be received by April 5, 2016 at [email protected]. Handler, Len Troman

Go to Hero Dog Awards/American Humane rd Association starting March 23 . Vote for Maxwell which is a vote for NSDA.

DO YOU LIVE WITHIN AN HOUR OF BURBANK, CA. ?

Landa Coldiron needs a training partner to help with two new puppies. And she can also help you. Call 818-442-2952 or email [email protected]; www.lostpetdetection.com

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 4

named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his NSDA TEST PASSED wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were Terry Bierfreund and K-9 Cache hoping for a miracle. California Land HRD I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six- year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s

transition without any difficulty or confusion.

We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact A DOG’S PURPOSE that animal lives are shorter than human According to a 6 Year Old lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”

The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

weruletheinternet.com/2011/05/24 Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound.

Training Seminars & Conferences

Reach over 1,300 SAR K-9 handlers. List your Trainings, seminars and conferences in the SAR Dog News

Contact Editor Norma Snelling at [email protected] 2016 Date Tests Location Contact Email/Phone March 6 Land HRD Carnation, WA Heather Jo Cutting [email protected] March 15-16 Land HRD FILLED Snohomish Co., WA Norma Snelling [email protected] [email protected] March 19-20 K9650 K9 Credentialing Test Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy 812-526-0013 March 21-22 Avalanche – (FORMS HERE) Snoqualmie Pass, WA Kevin Huggett [email protected] March 31- Land HRD, Area, Trailing Terre Haute, IN Robinn Stanifer [email protected] April 2 evaluations FILLED Land HRD SAR K9 Unit of [email protected] April 9 Sarasota, FL Janet Wyatt Sarasota, Florida 941-893-0965 Trailing, Water & Land HRD; May 3-8 Stevensville, MT Janet Yatchak [email protected] GSR beta testing [email protected] May 14 K9 Pretest Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy 812-526-0013 Land HRD, Water HRD, Area, June 2-5 Swan Valley, ID Rena Ferguson [email protected] Area/Large HRD Disaster First Responder, Type III June 4-5 Springfield, MO Robin Houston [email protected] (Human Remains) [email protected] July 23-24 K9650 K9 Credentialing Test Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy 812-526-0013 2016 Date Seminars Location Contact Email/Phone K9200 – Basic Air Scenting [email protected] March 4 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 SAR100 Crime Scene Operations – [email protected] March 5 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Blood Borne Pathogens 812-526-0013 K9300 Intermediate Air Scenting [email protected] March 5-6 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 workingdoginfo@pennvetwdc. April 8-11 Penn Vet Working Dog Conference Essington, PA org K9220 Basic Tracking/Trailing [email protected] April 16 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 K9210 Basic Land Cadaver [email protected] April 17 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 Contact Gail Cramer for April 27- L.E.T.S. (Law Enforcement [email protected] Camp Lakeview, IN 40 hour seminar & May 1 Training Specialists) certification details Superfit Canine Disaster Canine Muscatatuck Urban May 21-22 Eric Darling [email protected] Workshop HRD/Live Find Training Center, IN K9400Advanced Air Scenting [email protected] May 21-22 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 2016 Date Seminars Location Contact Email/Phone June 3-5 Scenarios Workshop (Info here) Cody, WY K.T. Irwin [email protected] K9310 Intermediate Cadaver [email protected] June 4-5 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Search Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 June 10-12 Annual Water HRD Workout Cody, WY K.T. Irwin [email protected] K9320 Intermediate [email protected] June 23-24 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Tracking/Trailing Techniques K9s 812-526-0013 K9420 Advanced Tracking/Trailing [email protected] June 25-26 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Search Techniques K9s 812-526-0013 HRD Seminar for Intermediate to July 8-10 Cody, WY K.T. Irwin Advanced [email protected] Superfit K9 Disaster Canine July 13-14 Virginia Beach, VA Eric Darling [email protected] Workshop Superfit Tactical Canine July 15-16 Virginia Beach, VA Eric Darling [email protected] Casualty Care (TC3) K9500 Water Cadaver Search [email protected] July 15-16 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 NSI K-9 Seminar Beginning, Aug 5-9 Seymour, IN Maryln Allen Adams [email protected] Intermediate, Advanced Land HRD SAR100 Crime Scene Operations – [email protected] Aug 6 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Blood Borne Pathogens 812-526-0013 Aug 19-20 Scenarios Workshop (Info here) Cody, WY K.T. Irwin [email protected] K9410 Advanced Land Cadaver [email protected] Aug 27-28 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 California SAREX 500+ Sept 9-11 Fresno, CA Attendees from CA & other states K9320 Basic Intro Disaster Search [email protected] Sept 13-14 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 K9330 Intermediate Disaster [email protected] Sept 15-16 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 K9430 Advanced Disaster [email protected] Sept 17-18 Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy Techniques for K9s 812-526-0013 CSAR 2016 Seminar Air Scent, Sept 18-23 Rosholt, WI Wisconsin Lions Camp Trailing, HRD, Water Recovery [email protected] 2016 All Breed Canine Multi- Holiday Lake 4-H Camp, Tim & Suzy Perry [email protected] Sept 25-30 discipline Appomattox, VA Bob Urban 440-413-1973 NSI K-9 Seminar Beginning [email protected] Oct 5-9 Seymour, IN Maryln Allen Adams Trailing, Land HRD [email protected] Nov 5-6 NSDA Seminar To be Announced Camp Atterbury, IN Lillian Hardy 812-526-0013 NSI K9 Workshop, HRD, Air Nov 6-8 Camp Lakeview, IN Maryln Allen Adams [email protected] Scent, Trailing FILLED Scenarios is 3 days of blind problems using land and water They do not know if their subject is alive or dead. They must cadaver, air scent, evidence, and trailing. The teams work through strategize and work together to locate the subject or victim. several searches per day and are given information from a Actors are used. Contact: K.T. Irwin reporting party at the beginning of each scenario just as they are [email protected] on actual search.

For more Evaluator information contact Heather at [email protected] For more Testing information, contact Rena at [email protected]

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 7

FORENSIC ODOROLOGY By Susan Bulanda

The field of forensic odorology is the technical name for the use of police K-9’s specifically trained to identify human scent in order to establish that a particular person has been at the scene of a crime. This would also include done with a variety of breeds and more dogs identifying someone in a line-up. used to validate their findings re: breed preference; they used 13 dogs for their study.) As SAR dog handlers, we all know about scent work with dogs. However, as the book K-9 The test involved scenting the dogs on an odor Fraud points out (see book review), using K-9 from the suspect and then identifying the evidence in court cases and scent identification target’s scent from other human scents. The in general has been questioned as to its results showed, that after twelve (12) months validity. of training, the dogs did not make any recognition mistakes and their olfactory The main reason why scent identification has sensitivity increased significantly. After two (2) been questioned is due to 1) the fact that years, the dogs were able to identify the there is not an internationally recognized correct scent 85% of the time. What is training method, 2) handler error, and 3) interesting is that the researchers determined misrepresentation of the dog’s work. that the 15% error rate was due to poor scent sampling, not due to the dog’s inability or However, since 2003, the field of forensic error. odorology has been studied at the Centre de recherche en neurosciences de Lyon The report goes on to say that between 2003 (CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon and 2016 the specially trained dogs were used 1/Inserm) in France by a team of researchers in 522 cases at the SDPTS and helped to specializing in scents and their memorization. resolve 162 cases. The scent used in these They have analyzed data, provided by the cases was typically hours to days old. The Division of the Technical and Scientific Police researchers now plan to study older cases (DTSP, Ecully), on dog performances in scent since scent can be preserved for years in scent identification tasks. libraries.

The study used two breeds of dogs, the Studies like this one give new hope and German Shepherd Dog inspiration to SAR dog and police dog handlers. and the Belgian However, an important lesson is the fact that Shepherd. They found the failed 15% were due to handler error, not that the GSD did the the dog. Our book review for this month gives best, mainly because insight to why there is handler error. they are more disciplined and https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/0 attentive. (I personally 2/160212102429.htm?utm_source=feedburner would have liked to &utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed% have seen the study 3A+sciencedaily%2Fplants_animals%2Fdogs+ %28Dogs+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 8

This story begins the winter of 2014-2015. cautiously optimistic about all the Godzilla El The Mammoth Mountain Avalanche Rescue Niño hype, but a 5-year drought can’t happen, dog teams were looking to get recertified right? We discussed the possibility of having through NSDA. I had recently been accepted to travel to get certified, the costs associated as an Evaluator for NSDA and we were hoping and the fact of leaving our ski area and for a series of storms to get on track for some surrounding backcountry without any rescue testing. I was in touch with Terry (Crooks) dogs. It’s going to snow. So Terry, Kevin and and Kevin (Huggett) about the possibility of I returned to our email conversation and once hosting the testing when we had enough again I entertained the idea of Mammoth snow. The three-year drought turned into a hosting a training. four-year drought. We had one good storm in April but it was too late. Enough said. Terry mentioned that the BOD of NSDA was working on the idea of a Ski Patrol avalanche Rewind to our September meeting of Eastside rescue certification. We were keen to the idea K-9 Avalanche Rescue, a non-profit for the and commented in our fall Eastside K-9 professional ski patrol dog teams. We were meeting the need for a larger organization to help standardize the professional

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 9

ski patrol avalanche rescue dog teams. Either Lake Tahoe area. We will be taking a snow-cat way, we were excited for the possibility of a real to the Heli-pad site then will fly in where you winter. must navigate to a site using GPS. The sites will have two (2) victims, (2) beacons and random The snow began to fall and it got cold. By clues and distractions. December, we had enough snow for 4’ deep dog holes and it was still snowing. The dates were Have a safe rest of your winter, and stop by and set. Kevin was coming the end of January. say hi if you’re ever in Mammoth.

The Mammoth Ski Patrol/Eastside K-9 Avalanche Scott Quirsfeld, Ski Patrol Manager Rescue dog teams consist of myself, a 17 year Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol, CA pro patroller and Chief, a seven (7) year black lab; Matt Seibert, a 12 year pro patroller and Atlas, a four (40 year old yellow lab; and Nicole Scott and K-9 Chief Deaver, a 10 year pro patroller with Duke, our two (20 year old golden. Our dog program started 11 years ago and we consider ourselves the new kids on the block.

In the early beginning of our program, we quickly realized we had an advantage, as we were able to go around the west to other ski patrols and dog schools to get ideas. We could use this opportunity to take what we liked to mold our program.

At this time, we are ready to respond to both the ski area and the surrounding backcountry. We work with local, county and state agencies to ensure our effective response when needed. We also spend time talking with local school groups Eric and K-9 Ruby Showing Interest about mountain safety and awareness and running simple rescues with ski and snowboard teams.

It snowed right up to the testing days. Fortunately, the weather was perfect and the testing was a big success. We look forward to hosting further trainings and future testing at Mammoth for both patrollers and SAR members.

I know we have so much more to offer than we were able to showcase in such a short time. For example, we are hosting a helicopter dog training in April with other pro patrols from the

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 10

Matt and K-9 Atlas responding, demonstrating the shoulder ski as a transport method

Kevin and K-9 Jett working a site

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 11

What is most important about this book are the lessons that the SAR dog handler can BOOK REVIEW learn about how to properly handle cases that by Sue Bulanda will hold up in court as well as how to properly train and handle their dogs. I highly K9 Fraud! Fraudulent Handling of Police recommend this book. Search Dogs, by Resi Gerritsen & Ruud Haak; Publisher, Detselig Enterprises LTD The chapters are: Alberta, Canada; ISBN: 978- Chapter 1: Fraud with Scent Identification 55059-393-8, Line-ups $27.95, 216 pgs. Chapter 2: Dog’s Responsiveness to Human Gestures This is a very Chapter 3: Fraud with Tracking Dogs interesting book Chapter 4: Scent Research and Tracking and one of the Experiments most unusual Chapter 5: Fraud with Mantrailing books that I Chapter 6: Human Odor and Dog’s Scent have reviewed. Perception While the book is Chapter 7: Scent Problems and Training primarily about police dogs and scent specific Problems work, it is very applicable for SAR units. Each Chapter 8: Avoiding and Preventing Fraud chapter has a number of real cases which are reviewed. The lessons in this book can be Section 1: Scent Identification Line-ups applied to all SAR disciplines. Section 2: Management Attention: Intentional Fraud The authors refer to studies and tests that Section 3: Civilians in Criminal Investigations have been conducted over the past hundred Section 4: Contamination of Scents plus years to verify how and why dogs work. Section 5: Improper Training For example, they address the studies done Section 6: Insurance Fraud to determine if dogs follow human scent or the disturbance on the ground. Note: An updated copy of K9 Fraud will be released in May; the title is: K9 Investigation Each chapter reviews actual cases and why Errors and How to Avoid Them. I hope to do there was fraud or not. Although the book a review on the updated edition over the points out flaws in handling and training, it is summer. not done in an accusatory manner. The Susan Bulanda authors explain the common mistakes that dog handlers make which lead to fraud.

The case studies covered in this book are Editor’s Note: I ordered this book from from around the world including some better Amazon in Feb. and the order was cancelled known USA cases and are lessons for the SAR due to not being available and then a raise in dog handler. They are also interesting to price. read for everyone else.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 12 KIBBLES & BITS by Susan Bulanda

To my loyal readers – Do you have any subjects that you would like me to cover? Send them to me at [email protected] with K & B in the subject line.

This month we will look at the and the for SAR work.

The Australian Shepherd: The name of this breed is misleading. The AS is not from Australia but was created in the 1800’s in the Midwest as a herding dog. They got their name by association with the Basque sheepherders who came from Australia. They range from 20 – 23 inches and weigh 50-65 lbs.

In many ways they are like other herding breeds, especially the Border . They are very biddable, intelligent, and are eager to do SAR work or any other job that you may have for them.

Aussies tend to be less likely to nip at human heels and are generally better with children than many other herding breeds. But keep in mind that Aussies do move stock by nipping at their heels (called ‘gripping’ ) so the tendency is in the breed. They have a high drive and can go for the better part of the day with rests and can tolerate both the cold and warmer weather.

Aussies have been used for a variety of jobs such as seeing-eye dogs, assistance dogs for the handicapped, hearing dogs, police and narcotic dogs and of course SAR work. They have even been used as sled dogs in the north.

Since they are a high drive dog, they do require a substantial amount of exercise or they can become destructive, sometimes barking a lot. Aussies typically are not a good protection dog since they are friendly, a plus for a SAR dog. Their training must start as early as twelve (12) weeks (puppy training) and they do need proper socialization.

There are two distinct types of Aussies: the working variety and the show variety. I know I sound like a broken record but the working variety is more suitable for SAR work. They are a bit smaller, their coat is a working coat and they are more agile. The show dogs are bred with a very profuse coat not suitable for field work and they may have lost some of their working drive.

Typically it only takes three generations for a line to lose its full working genetics. Also be aware that there is a Miniature Australian Shepherd Club. These dogs are not recognized. It is my opinion and experience that the miniaturization of breeds does not produce a better dog.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 13

The Aussie is relatively free of health defects, but does tend to have eye problems and Canine Hip Dysplasia. The main health issue comes from their merle coloring, which causes blindness and deafness. http://www.doggenetics.co.uk/merle.html#healthissues

It is critical that breeders perform a Baer test on merle puppies. http://www.offa.org/deaf_baer.html

Australian Cattle Dog

The ACD does come from Australia and is a very tough dog. They tolerate weather extremes even though they have a short flat coat. Their coat tends to be on the coarser side rather than silky. They have a substantial undercoat that protects them from the weather. They come in two forms of the merle color, either blue or red.

They are also known as a Queensland Heeler, Red Heeler and Blue Heeler and originally as Halls Heelers. The breed was originally mixed with tamed wild Dingo’s of Australia (note that being tamed is not the same as being domesticated). The breed was established by 1840.

They are a hard dog and not always easily trained since they have an independent nature. They are also protective and can be aggressive toward strangers. They will protect their family and family possessions.

The Australian cattle dog is not always a good choice as a pet with children since they will nip at a person’s heels, (child or adult). Unless they are socialized properly at a young age (they must have a favorable association with humans by the time they are weaned) and the socialization with humans continues into adulthood, they may not make a good candidate for SAR work. They are not tolerant of dogs that they do not know. T hey must be trained using positive training methods since, if they are treated harshly, they may bite.

The ones that do accept strangers and are properly trained can make excellent SAR dogs. They have a keen work ethic and can go all day. They are a very compact, muscular dog and remind me of the physical toughness of Pit Bulls. They are agile and yet very portable. As with most other breeds, the working ACD’s make better SAR dogs than the show dogs. The show dogs tend to have stockier bodies and shorter legs.

The main health issues are: recessive alleles that cause deafness and blindness (merle as noted with the Australian shepherd); about 3% are deaf in both ears and 15% in one ear; progressive retinal atrophy with the most common form being PRCD (progressive rod-cone degeneration); Canine Hip Dysplasia, although not common, occurs often enough to have the parents of litters cleared before breeding; hereditary polioencephalomyelopathy which although is rare, causes dogs to be completely paralyzed by their first year of life; they also suffer from spondylosis, elbow dysplasia and arthritis; pyometra, and false pregnancy; they are subjected to cruciate ligament tears, fractures and lameness.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 14

State Legislation Legalizing Possession of Human Remains for Recovery Teams by K.T. Irwin This article is meant to give guidelines for locate a murder victim, possibly buried for handlers who want to pass legislation in their many years. state to legalize the possession of human Many handlers who only have small source to remains for search dog train with, such as teeth or placenta, have handlers. As of this problems with scent threshold on actual writing, only searches where the dog hits the edge of the scent threshold and goes to final indication. Wyoming, Utah and Texas This could be 1000 feet or more from the have passed actual body. The dog isn’t wrong. The dog is legislation for performing exactly as trained and indicating civilian at the amount of scent at which he has been handlers to trained to indicate. Imprinting and working possess the dog on large and varying sources allows human them to work through threshold and scent remains for pool issues and cone all the way in to the the purpose of training body. This is one of the points that should be cadaver dogs. The sources we use for outlined in the initial write-up to your training should not be considered illegal since legislators. it is city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies that routinely call us in Your first step is to decide, within your state, to locate missing people, many presumed who will be the handler or group who will dead. work with the legislators/representatives and senators. This handler/group will need to Human Remains Detection Teams across this research in which district they reside and then country have successfully located avalanche go to their dot gov website to locate the victims, drowning victims, murder victims; representatives for that district as well as the people killed in disaster situations, missing senators. The site will have your hunters, exposure deaths, clandestine graves, representatives and senators contact missing children, crime scenes, etc. And the information. These are your backers. only way to locate human remains is to use human remains to train the dogs. They are lay people in regard to what we do so a write up for them is necessary. This In order to have an experienced, well-trained write up should contain a listing of all dog, one must have suitable sources, large handlers in your state and the disciplines in and small; bone; tissue; and blood in all which they are certified. Include excerpts of stages of decomposition as each case we’re cases in this country where search dogs have called out on is different. We can be called located missing and/or deceased people. out on an exposure death, where there is Also include disasters in which search dogs very little decomposition, or be called to played a large role, such as the Washington

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 15

individual for the purpose of training a dog to state mudslide. search for human remains. The Texas bill is extremely wordy and granted authority to the Include the various certifying agencies such Anatomical Board of the State so those as NSDA, NASAR, NPWDA, SARDUS, IPWDA, handlers must now go through another step Tri-StateK9.Org, etc. along with copies of and layer of bureaucracy in order to obtain various testing standards and requirements sources. The bill should be worded as simply for handlers. Include reasons for the need to as possible. legalize possession of human remains as stated above. Once you have identified your representatives and have them up to speed, they will start Next, research your state legislation for any the proceedings by making a motion to bill regarding human remains. Each state’s amend a bill or present a new bill. I suggest site can usually be found under a dot gov, for you start now with gathering your example Oregon.gov. information, write ups and presenting it all to your state repressentatives. If there are laws already in place that allow possession of human remains for research Next year, the bills will be presented, then go facilities, doctors, coroners, etc., ask your to legislative committees for discussion. If representative to send a written request to approved, they’ll be voted on. If they pass your State’s Attorney General and ask for an the House vote, they’ll go on to a Senate opinion as to whether the law includes search Committee for discussion, then on to a dog handlers with other professionals or Senate vote. They then go to the Governor facilities already listed. In the case of for signature and the Governor has the right Wyoming, the AG did not feel search dog to veto any bill. handlers fell under any of the professions listed so our legislators decided to amend the The handler or group who is working to pass bill already in place. your legislation must stay in contact with your state’s representatives for the two weeks or Here are the links for the Wyoming, Utah and so the bill is being discussed and voted on. Texas bills: There will be naysayers. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2011/Enroll/HB02 43.pdf It is very important to listen, via computer, to http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/HB0173. the discussions and objections so that you html can help your representative answer http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Search/DocVie questions and argue effectively. Stay in wer.aspx?ID=84RSB012145A&QueryText=% contact with them via text and email. If they 22human+remains%22&DocType=A need information to argue with someone objecting or answer a question, they’ll need Wyoming made sure to word the bill so that that information from you within minutes. handlers could only possess human remains if they worked under a county sheriff, such as a Your representative will let you know when search and rescue organization. The Utah bill the bill is being discussed and you’ll usually is even more simplified and states a medical have several hours’ notice. Make sure to be examiner may retain and donate tissue to an available.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 16

The officer and Harley: A lesson in Also, several of our more populated states kindness and community policing have a full-time legislature while the less Jill Burke February 24, 2016 populated, rural states have sessions only once per year. Many of you can work on It’s a parent’s worst nightmare. Your child is getting your bill passed now. off somewhere in the world without you and something goes wrong. Our work is legitimate and important. We find missing people and help to solve crimes With children who have developmental for law enforcement. What we train with disabilities or mental illness, something is should be legal. bound to go wrong at some point. So you craft action plans. You practice what to do. You get their care providers on the same page. You hope your action plan will work if Avalanche Dog Locates Skier and when needed. Many times it will. But Date: 2016-02-21 there’s always the possibility that one time, in Submitted By: American Avalanche Assn. some ordinary place doing some ordinary thing, something will go awry. Then what? Place: Grand Targhee Resort, Wyoming

Summary: one (1) out-of-area skier caught, The Anchorage Police Department has a buried and killed volunteer training program to help its officers make the best possible decisions when On Sunday, a resort skier removed his skis encountering people with autism, fetal alcohol and crossed under a rope closure at the ski spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress area boundary. He walked onto a cornice disorder, brain injuries, depression or any that collapsed, dropping him down on to the other condition that can affect a person’s slope below which triggered a slab avalanche. behavior and how well he or she might respond to police.

For parents, the worst nightmare isn’t the meltdown. It’s how other people will react, and then how your child will react to them.

To read this article in full, go to http://www.adn.com/article/20160224/officer -and-harley-lesson-kindness-and-community- policing

How is your team trained to handle these situations? The Editor’s own team once had a The avalanche swept the skier over a very teenager who had evaded searchers and run large cliff and buried the skier. A Grand for three hours. A searcher drove up near Targhee avalanche dog found the skier buried him on a 4 wheeler and offered him a ride. two (2) feet. He has suffered significant He hopped on and rode right back to the trauma. middle of base camp.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 17

Training for SAR is not only for the dog but THE LAST HOWL the handler must develop field skills as well. By Sue Wolff Teams may require SARTECH certification, Opinions expressed in this column are those of the first aid training and an amateur radio author and not necessarily those of the National license along with K-9 certifications for the Search Dog Alliance. dog/handler team.

♦ Am I willing to continue my dog’s and my Often in our enthusiasm for search and training even after certification? rescue, we forget to mention to those interested the commitment necessary to Amazingly enough many people think that become a K-9 handler. Then we’re surprised their training ends as soon as they and/or when that excellent candidate only comes to their K-9 are certified. They look at the one or two training sessions before process like a class where you receive a disappearing forever. certificate at the end and never have to take that class again. Or, if they have Below is a comprehensive list of things to trained their dog for competition, they may consider before starting in SAR. I’ve seen view the certification as steps to a higher this on team websites and have used it as a level so they never have to train at the handout for newbies so I’m not claiming lower level again. It’s essential to authorship but why re-invent the wheel when emphasize this point of continuing someone else has said it so well. education.

♦ Will I drive long distances for training or a Before starting in search and rescue (SAR), search? ask yourself the following questions:

Point out that some training may be several ♦ I understand that it takes an average of miles/hours away and may cost money. twelve (12) to eighteen (18) months of Searches are not always next door either. dedicated training, two-three (2-3) times a

week, before a handler and dog are ready to ♦ Will I be able to get off work for a search, if certify. Am I willing to devote that kind of necessary? time and energy?

This is something that the prospective A lot of people, when they start with a SAR handler must consider. It may also be team, think that it is like a club and they will something that the handler needs to discuss only be attending a meeting once a month. with their superior at work. If leaving work Another misconception is that they can turn for a search will jeopardize their job, then the their dog over to someone else to train. It is team needs to know they can only expect this important to stress that the dog and handler handler/K-9 team on nights and weekends. must train together in order for them to bond and to recognize each other’s responses.

♦ Am I willing to obtain the types of training required for search and rescue?

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 18

However there is a bright side: SAR ♦ Will I make myself available for a search equipment makes good gifts!! when needed? Nights? Weekends? Holidays? ♦ Can I work under the direction of others during a search or training? Searches do not have a schedule nor do they recognize celebrations or leisure time. If this Most K-9 handlers have Type A is going to be a problem for the hander personalities thus making it difficult for and/or their family, then they must discuss it. them to take commands from a Team It is very important for SAR personnel to have Leader or Incident Commander. This may the support of their family group; without it lead to conflicts which create havoc at SAR responsibilities can create stress, strife training or on a search. Cohesiveness is and strain which will eventually take all the extremely important on a search and enjoyment out of it. personal feelings must be put aside for the benefit of the one who is lost or ♦ Am I, or can I get, physically and mentally endangered. You are there for the victim, prepared to work long hours under bad not for personal gain. conditions for a search and/or training so I won’t become part of the problem? Is my dog: ü an appropriate breed and age for SAR This is extremely important. Like searches work? not adhering to a schedule, they do not recognize the weather either. Rain, snow, Certain breeds work well in SAR and sleet, mud, gravel, hill, mountain, others do not. Dogs with short, desert…searches happen everywhere. While compressed noses such as bull dogs often some responding agencies may stop at do not have the ability to effectively smell sundown, most SAR teams work through the odors as needed in searching. The night. Time is not taken to go somewhere to herding and working breeds are the most eat so you must carry provisions. The preferred for SAR i.e. German shepherd handler must have the physical stamina to dogs, Belgian malinois, Labrador continue the search and the mental acuteness retrievers, golden retrievers, etc. Most K- to remain alert no matter what the time or 9 certification tests are not given to a K-9 weather. Also be aware that training may under the age of one year but, depending take place in all kinds of weather and at any on the dog, it can begin training before time of day or night so personnel will be that age so it will be ready to test at the ready for these conditions on a search. preferred time.

♦ Am I willing to spend my own money for SAR ü confident and non-aggressive towards equipment, gas, lodging, training, etc.? (This people or other dogs? will be hundreds of dollars over time.) It is vital that a SAR K-9 be well socialized not Here again it is important to have family only with humans but also with other dogs. support because of the cost of equipment as No one needs a dog fight at training or on a well as wear and tear on a vehicle. search as it is dangerous and reflects badly on the handler and on their team.

NSDA SAR DOG NEWS March 2016 Page 19

ü in excellent health?

As SAR is strenuous, it is important for the dog be healthy just like the handler.

ü willing to learn new things?

If the dog is going to work well, it cannot be a couch potato.

ü willing to work for me?

The K-9 must listen to its owner (who will Board of Directors— become its handler) and obey commands it OFFICERS receives from that person. This will be Susan Fleming, President, Pennsylvania essential in the field for everyone’s safety. [email protected] Terry Crooks, Vice-President, Montana Give these items some thought the next time [email protected] you’re talking to someone interested in K-9 Sherry Scruggs, Secretary/Treasurer, Georgia search and rescue so they’ll be aware that it [email protected] involves more than following their dog’s tail. DIRECTORS Julie Gibson, Idaho [email protected] Bridget Jackson, Missouri [email protected] Robert Noziska, New Mexico [email protected] Heather Proper-VanValkenberg, Pennsylvania [email protected] Kathleen Kelsey, Missouri [email protected] Jennifer Skeldon, Idaho [email protected] Heather Matheny [email protected]

Founding Members—

K-9 Thor, Eileen M. Nobles, Susan Bulanda K-9 Roo, Leslie Godchaux, Brian R. Hendrickson Continental Kennel Club, Inc., K-9 River, K-9 Persha; Jan Thompson, K-9 Cali, Peggy Ann Buchman; K-9 Geist