L.A. County Search Teams staged for deployment to Haiti at March Airforce Base, January 14, 2010
Front row (L to R): Bill Monahan & Hunter, Jason Vasquez & Maverick, Jasmine Segura & Cadillac;
Back row (L to R): Ron Weckbacher & Dawson, Gary Durian & Baxter, Ron Horetski & Pearl

The Search Dog Foundation is receiving ongoing updates from our teams on the ground in Haiti. The handlers call or text-message when they have a chance, telling of the desperate situation they face, and the awesome work of their canine partners.

Saturday afternoon, SDF Search Teams Jasmine & Cadillac, Jason & Maverick and Bill Monahan (working as Search Team Manager) were brought in to verify the presence of a survivor when tapping was detected under the rubble of a daycare center. CNN’s Anderson Cooper and his camera crew were at the scene and reported live as the Search Dogs showed interest in the area. Sadly, after searching for almost eight hours, L.A. County Task Force determined that no one was alive under the concrete.

Ron Horetski & Pearl, Gary Durian & Baxter and Ron Weckbacher & Dawson searched throughout the night for survivors buried beneath the rubble of a bank. They returned to the Task Force Base of Operations at 4:30am on Sunday. Jasmine, Jason and Bill set out again at 5am to continue searching in their assigned area.

The teams are working long hours, stopping only long enough to let the dogs rest before starting to search again. Once they begin a search operation, they work until the effort is complete – no matter how long it takes. The handlers are sustaining themselves on military rations (MREs) and hot water; the dogs have food brought for them by their handlers.

Bill Monahan reported to us via text message: “Dogs are searching great. All eating and drinking. We’re working to make it ‘fun’ for them so they’ll stay motivated.”

He later shared by phone: “It’s a giant team effort. From the canines, to the logistics team, to communications, everyone is working at full capacity, using everything we’ve been trained to do to find survivors. It’s an honor to be here.”

Back home, with several days of heavy rains predicted in Southern California, SDF teams that didn’t leave for Haiti stand by for deployment to neighborhoods threatened by mudslides or flooding.

For up to the minute updates on SDF’s Search Teams in Haiti and at home, join our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/NationalDisasterSearchDogFoundation and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/searchrescuedog.

Hello Again Everyone,

We have incredibly exciting news……Our dog Hunter, a red and white Border Collie with his handler Bill Monahan just found 3 little girls trapped in a collapsed building. Hunter alerted on the pile and stayed with it until Bill was able to confirm that there were victims inside. He was able to get the girls water by taping water bottles on to the end of a stick to pass to the girls. The only English word he understood was “thank you”

As I write this there are tears of joy streaming from everyone here at the office. Our dogs DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Thank you everyone for everything that you do to make this possible.

I will continue to keep you posted as the stories start to roll in….

Karen

Six of the Canine Search Teams you support have been deployed as part of California Task Force 2 to find people buried alive in the wreckage.

Gary Durian & Baxter L.A. County Fire
Ron Horetski & Pearl L.A. County Fire
Bill Monahan & Hunter L.A. County Fire
Jasmine Segura & Cadillac L.A. County Fire
Jason Vasquez & Maverick L.A. County Fire
Ron Weckbacher & Dawson - Civilian

Canine Disaster Search Teams Deployed to Earthquake Stricken Haiti. Your Support In Action.

By now, you’ve heard about the Haitian government and their request for the U.S. to take a lead role in responding to the most devastating disaster to hit the island in 200 years.

With this request for help and thanks to your ongoing support, the Search Dog Foundation is now in action mode. Here’s why.

The State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance are coordinating rescue efforts. California Task Force 2, based in Los Angeles, is one of two U.S. Task Forces charged with responding to international disasters.

CA-TF2 includes a critical disaster response resource: Canine Disaster Search Teams trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation to find people buried alive under the wreckage of disaster.

SDF’s Executive Director Debra Tosch said, “Our hearts go out to our neighbors in Haiti, and we’re honored to be able to help find survivors of this terrible tragedy as part of CA-TF2. This is the day that our teams have trained for: when the unthinkable happens, SDF Teams stand ready to respond, bringing hope and comfort to victims and their loved ones.”

There is no doubt, they will find many individuals buried; if they can gain access to those sections of the Island. And, because of your support and ongoing belief in our mission, we can say Thank You for Being Part of the Search.

You can follow their updates on http://twitter.com/searchrescuedog.