Great report on the Nebraska Task Force 1 Search and Rescue dog teams!
By: Kelly Sommariva
KSommariva@klkntv.com
The urban search and rescue team was sent to the world trade center after 9/11 and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. They’re called Nebraska Task Force 1, and with the help of expert dog handlers they prepare for the worst right here in the Capital city.
In the entire country there are just over 200 of these nationally certified rescue dogs. The Capital city is home to four of them, and if all goes well, another three by next month. The dogs and handlers are hard at work preparing for that test and today we had an exclusive look on their training.
Buried alive after a natural disaster…. this sound (Dog barking)… Could save your life. Dog Handler Damon Wirth says, “What our dogs do is detect live, human scent. If there’s a tornado, earthquake, any kind of national disaster man made disaster we have our dogs here that are going to be in there to locate the people we can’t find.”
It’s part of the Nebraska Task Force One, Urban Search and Rescue Training. Search Team Manager, Steve Dolezal says, “This is probably the hardest thing you can do with a dog”
Firefighter Damon Wirth and his dog George were paired together last winter. He says, “He’s with me 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So you build a really tight bond”
When the dogs find a person, they’re rewarded with plenty of playtime. But they have to learn to do it in some of the most difficult conditions. The dogs are able to quickly search a large and potentially dangerous area… But they have to complete hours of rigorous training first. “Our dogs have to do the agility portion they have to learn the scent portion plus they have to get it up on here plus they have to do it in whatever kind of environment we’re going to get them to.”
Not all the handlers are firefighters but they are all volunteers. And they all do it for one reason. “The chance to be able to save one person, that’s ultimately what we’re here for is to be able to make a difference in one person’s life…if our dogs can find that one person to get at and make a difference in their life down the road I think it’s totally worth the time we volunteer and dedicate to this.”
Three of these rescue dogs training today are actually rescues themselves from an organization in California. The trainers flew out there last winter to get paired up with their dog. If you’re interested in learning more about their search and rescue team you can log on to searchdogfoundation.org or http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/fire/usar/index.htm
Third Army American Red Cross therapy dog, Luka, a Border-Collie and Labrador mix, relaxes before he visits troops here, Aug. 10. Luka travels around Kuwait to visit service members to lift their spirits from the every day stresses of being deployed. Therapy dogs like Luka helps Third Army troops stay focused on the mission and sustain the fight by providing stress relief through therapy sessions. Photo by Staff Sgt. Shelia Sledge
Third Army American Red Cross therapy dog, Luka, a Border-Collie and Labrador mix, relaxes before he visits troops here, Aug. 10. Luka travels around Kuwait to visit service members to lift their spirits from the every day stresses of being deployed. Therapy dogs like Luka helps Third Army troops stay focused on the mission and sustain the fight by providing stress relief through therapy sessions. Photo by Staff Sgt. Shelia Sledge
Below is a great article about a program at the Wounded Warrior Battalion West – Detachment Hawaii where wounded warriors participate in helping train service dogs. I’m really happy to see more of these programs being implemented and expanding to other medical facilities to help our warriors as they go through the recovery process. I am a huge supporter of these programs as I had the privilege of watching how much warriors benefit from them after having worked at the WWBn – Detachment San Diego Naval Medical Center. It doesn’t take a doctor to tell you interacting with a dog can improve your morale. Thank you Hawaii Fi-Do for supporting our troops!!
Hawaii Fi-Do dog therapy for devil dogs
Story by Kristen Wong-(DVIDS) MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -
Lance Cpl. Joshua Jablon has nightmares from time to time.
Fortunately, he has a new friend he can count on to wake him and offer him comfort when necessary. Through Hawaii Fi-Do, wounded warriors like Jablon are learning to heal, with some canine care.
Since July 15, Marines of Wounded Warrior Battalion West — Detachment Hawaii have been working with specially trained dogs from the local nonprofit organization in an effort to help the mental and emotional healing process for the warriors.
During the six-week program, wounded service members interact
and train with dogs for up to two hours. On average, about six to eight participants come to each session, and as many as 16 can come at a time. The service member must receive a referral from a mental healthcare professional to be eligible for the program.
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Military working dog Chyba passed away from pancreatic cancer on Saturday July 30th, she was 12 years old. MWD Chyba lived a long and heroic life, completing multiple combat tours with the U.S. military. She was the inspiration behind the monument at the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, Ca. I’ll never forget having had the honor of meeting Chyba once before and tell her thank you for her service.
Military-style memorial for hero war dog
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