Chief (a Redbone Coonhound/Lab cros) was my first search dog. He was destined for the shelter when I rescued him. We trained extensively in area search, avalanche, land cadaver and water recovery. He finally retired from all field work at 12 years old after dozens of searches over his lifetime, with several successful finds. On October 19, 2010 I said goodbye to my companion, friend and working partner of 13.5 years. He will always remain a part of me in my heart, soul, and memories.
I began training both myself and my canine partner "Chief" in search and rescue work in 1997 when Chief was just a puppy. I spent the first two years working and training with Missoula County Search and Rescue and Clarkfork Bitterroot Search Dogs. In 1999 I moved to Logan, UT and began working and training with Weber County Search and Rescue and American Search Dogs until I moved yet again in 2003, to my present location in Bloomington, IL. I currently am the President of Illinois Search Dogs and the K9 Unit Sergeant with McLean County Emergency Management Agency. Since moving to Illinois, our operational emphasis is on land and water cadaver and first responder disaster cadaver. In 2005 I began to train my second search dog, T-Top's Sula Montana. "Sula" is a purebred Redbone Coonhound and she is now certified in trailing, land cadaver and water recovery with the International Police Work Dog Association.
Sula training for water recovery work.
Sula trailing in training.
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Sula at 3 months, her first exposure to disaster debris. Sula was born in 2005 and is fully certified in both trailing and human remains detection (both land and water) through the International Police Work Dog Association. She has had several successful searches in her young career already and I expect more great things to come from her in the future.
