Search dogs take break from mudslide recovery
Source: AP-Excite
By JONATHAN J. COOPER and LISA BAUMANN
DARRINGTON, Wash. (AP) - Many of the dogs that have been essential in the search for victims of the deadly mudslide that buried the mountainside community of Oso will take a two-day break after long hours in the cold and rain, rescue crews said Sunday.
The dogs can lose their sensing ability if overworked, officials said.
"The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs," said Kris Rietmann, a spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide, which hit March 22 about 55 miles northeast of Seattle and is one of the deadliest in U.S. history.
Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that arrived more recently will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140331/DACSB7481.htmla
Rescue dog Tryon, muddied from the day's work, stands with his handler near the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 in Arlington, Wash., on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Periods of rain and wind have hampered efforts the past two days, with some rain showers continuing today. Last night, the confirmed fatalities list was updated to 18, with the number of those missing falling from 90 to 30. (AP Photo/Rick Wilking, Pool)
hlthe2b
(101,721 posts)Searching for cadavers is really hard on search and rescue dogs. It seems clear they experience a kind of PTSD as well as humans.
They deserve every kindness humans can shower them with.
840high
(17,196 posts)KT2000
(20,544 posts)I hope they get a warm bath and a snooze next to a fireplace.
Lasher
(27,500 posts)And so, during a break the handlers hide so that the dogs can find them. That is all these dogs need to lift their spirits so that they can resume the searching. It has been many years since I learned that and I always remember this when I know rescue dogs are at work.
catchnrelease
(1,942 posts)Back during one of the earlier disasters (9/11 or Katrina maybe) it was reported that the dogs got depressed as you say. And that the handlers would set it up for them to find a 'survivor' so that the dogs could go on. What troopers, they are so giving and ask so little from us.
Jerry442
(1,265 posts)You won't always be right, but you'll be right more often than not.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)The enthusiasm these dogs were showing in some of the pictures was so amazing -- even to this dog lover.
flamingdem
(39,304 posts)Really wonderful that they found a way to help the dogs
leftyladyfrommo
(18,816 posts)Unlike search and rescue dogs they are trained especially to find cadavers.