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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2000 Community 6 In! By Dixie Brunner Real help sometimes comes in a bounding border collie. A slobbering Shepherd may be the sweetest thing youve ever laid eyes on. The Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Dogs are occasionally the only lifeline between a lost person and certain death. The tracking ability of these skilled canines and their handlers have saved scores of people and located bodies throughout the state. The Rocky Mountain organization has approximately 20 members currently, and is celebrating their 20th year of existence. The it group willingly volunteers their time and talents at a moments notice to assist agencies throughout the state. They have also been called to searches outside of the state, including Arizona and the Oklahoma City bombing. They were once sent to Venezuela to search for two college students who had been reported missing. Most dogs in the Rocky Mountain unit are Wilderness trained. They are experts at finding people outdoors. Other dogs are structure-trained, or taught to search buildingrubble for victims ofbomb-ing-s or earthquakes. The Rocky Mountain Search dogs are trained for air scenting tracking, water and avalanche searches. One dog named Cowboy and his handler Dave Richards are Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified. There are probably 100 dogs in the country who have passed the basic search dog certification, said Richards, and only about 50 who have passed the FEMA. non-prof- And training begins early for person. Anything which has the these dogs. They are started persons scent can be used. The around six to eight weeks, said handlers then release the search Richards. We try to expose the dogs in the area the person was dogs to a lot ofdifferent situations last seen. We couldnt possibly keep up and stimuli. It is very important in a disaster situation for a dog to with them if we kept them on a behave well. Handlers and their dogs have a very tight bond, explains Charles Bird, member of the Salt Lake based unit. They must have really good communication and a good relationship. The relationship part is obvious when you watch the handlers and dogs interact. The dogs had been called to Kane County to search for a Big Water girl who was fortunately found before the dogs went into action. The Civil Air Patrol flew the Search teams to the Kanab Airport. d The dogs lick, fetch and play with their adoring owners when they are not on duty. But theyre all work when theyre called on a search. The animals are first given an article of clothing or possession of the missing leash "laughs handler Barb Altum, adding how excited the dogs get whentheypickupthevictimsscent Theyre trained to come back and tell us theyve found something. While the Rocky Mountain Dog handlers are always proud of their dogs when they find a missing person, sometimes even they are amazed at the dogs ability. On one water search, said Richards, the victims body surfaced about fifteen feet from where the dog had indicated. But the services of the Rocky Mountaiif Rescue Dogs were not needed this day and the dogs bounded back into the airplane with their handlers in tow. If you ever get lost, the sweetest sight you may ever see will have four legs, a wagging tail and a really amazing nose! - Motherless birds need nurturing from wildlife rehabilitator idea. After they test their wings in Annabel lives in a gilded cage. The cage is actually black. the Feathered Friends aviary, The gild takes the form of a St. Joan will release the killdeer for by Kanab Creek - a spot the sun-lovicarpeted ramp, tailor-mad- e water-wadeshould find the young crow with gnarled most water cheerful a feet; hospitable. purple Feathered Friends is also nurbowl; cheese and apple treats placed at each level ofthe ramp; turing a dozen baby songbirds, and silver bells and rings fash- several dislodged from their tree ioned by her rescuers for her houses by the recent fierce winds. Penny Savage is one of play toys. TTie Feathered Friends departthe tireless caretakers who feed ment of Best Friends is clearly the babies every 45 minutes from taking every measure to make 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., taking the endthe crippled birds life as pleas- lessly hungry tweets home to nourish them during her off ant as possible. hours. create the cant Still, they world Annabel was meant to Savage takes care to keep the birds boxes warm and fined with inhabit: the great outdoors. And the disabled crow that unsoiled facial tissues and to greets visitors with laughter resist the temptation to talk to and shouts might not have been the birds or pet them. We cant deprived of the wilds had her treat them like pets, St. Joan rescuers immediately turned says, or else they wont survive her over to a wildlife in the wild. If you find a baby bird, St. rehabilitator, says Sharon St. of recommends the following Joan Feathered Joan, manager Friends. steps: A couple found the crippled Try to locate the birds nest nestling by the side of the and parents and return it to the road, took the little crow home nest. and kept her as a pet for a If the parents or nest cant St. Joan says. They be located, place the bird in a The Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Unit is in its 20th year as one of the year, know that keeping wild- shoebox with air holes, keep the didnt top emergency canine groups in the United States. good-nature- By Carolyn Mitchell ng rs life as pets is illegal. When they found out, they brought Annabel to us. By the time she reached the sanctuary, Annabel was too disabled and too tame for re- O lease. Kane County Dental Group PERSONALIZED & COMFORTABLE Ask us about our new orthodontic procedures with new techniques that decrease treatment time up to 40! Call today for a consult with Dr. John Armstrong. K. John Armstrong DDS Robert Gibson DDS Larry Staples DDS Nileen Whitlock RDH The best thing to do in these cases is to take the bird right away to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, says St. Joan. With proper attention at that early stage, Annabels feet nestling warm and bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator. Dont give the bird water or food.Baby birds may easily drown from any attempt to give them water. And feeding a nestling requires training. Do not keep the bird. Not only is this against the law, it will almost surely result in the death of the bird. Call Sharon St. Joan at 435--, 644-200- ext. 211, for more 1, might have heeded to the point that she could have been released. In contrast to Annabel, two baby killdeer brought to Best Friends a few weeks ago are fluttering around their screened box, eager to sail into the blue skies. Construction workers in Hurricane found the nestlings, searched for their parents without success, and then d brought the pair Annabel the crow is just one oftht many lucky birds who has been caret The babies hatch like chick- for by the Best Friends Animal Sane staff. , ens and learn to eat by watching tuary Best Friends has state and federa their parents, says St. Joan. approval to keep wild animals, sud Our two little ones didnt have as Annabel, for educational purposes their parents, so we had to hand Sharon St Joan is a state and feder ' e!!y licensed wildlife rehabilitator, long-legge- to St. Joan. InU Call now for an appointment 435-644-41- 81 355 N. Main Street Kanab, UT 84741 vv-- - ir-- t v'cl lwiy'? |