SEARCH TEAMS STOP, LOOK AND LEARN : HANDLERS, DOGS TRAIN.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer Laurie Brown Laurie Brown may be:
This wasn't just a walk in the park; the duo was practicing their search and rescue skills as members of the California Rescue Dog Association, a volunteer group that operates under the state Office of Emergency Services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' . ``The key to rescue is reading your dog,'' said Brown. A low wag, for instance, means Tess is getting close to a discovery, and a sudden pulling means the canine is hot on a find. ``That's why she tethered Attached to a data or power source by wire or fiber. Contrast with untethered. to me,'' said Brown, who is a high school art teacher in Palmdale. In a single year, Tess joins Bufford the bloodhound bloodhound, breed of large hound whose ancestors were known in the Mediterranean region before the Christian era. It stands about 25 in. (63.5 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs between 80 and 110 lb (36.3–49.9 kg). , Bella the spotted border collie border collie, breed of medium-sized, sheepherding dog developed in the British Isles. It stands about 18 in. (45.7 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 30 to 45 lb (13.6–20.4 kg). and an assortment of other dogs and their owners who are called to 200 or more search and rescue operations. Sunday's drill for seven teams of rescuers and their dogs was to find four ``missing'' children in the backwoods of Corriganville Park. Just as if children were missing, the group was given topography maps that detailed the hills and dales of the woodsy area. They also were provided with articles of the youngsters' clothing for their dogs to sniff. Their noses make dogs attuned at·tune tr.v. at·tuned, at·tun·ing, at·tunes 1. To bring into a harmonious or responsive relationship: an industry that is not attuned to market demands. 2. to things that humans could never detect. ``Particles fall from the human body, such as your skin or hair and turn into gases that the dogs could pick up,'' said volunteer Kathy Johnson of Huntington Beach. For the dog handlers, the trick is learning how to understand their partners motions as they follow the trail. Los Angeles city Firefighter Deresa Teller said she got interested in the canine search team after seeing one work during an earthquake in Mexico. ``Like a lot of us, I just called all around to find out where I could go to get involved,'' said Brown. When the Oklahoma City bombing See Terrorism "The Oklahoma City Bombing" (Sidebar); Venue "Venue and the Oklahoma City Bombing Case" (Sidebar). occurred, Teller said she and her dog were there to help. ``I do it because I've always enjoyed being with dogs, hiking and helping people.'' CAPTION(S): 4 Photos Photo: (1--color) Handler Scot Kubinski directs his dogto search a brushy area off the trail at Corriganville Park in Simi Valley (2--color) Two dogs await their chance to go into the park's back country on a simulated search for lost children. (3) Scot Kubinski makes sure his dog, Ikea, gets a drink of water during Sunday's training exercise. (4) Vickie Perryman of Yucaipa gives Brandy a kiss for her efforts. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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