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RINGSPORT & SCHUTZHUND |
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To the Hard Workin' Dogs Index |
| SAR, TRACKING & WATER WORK |
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Intros & FAQs Articles & Stories 911BC Absaroka Search Dogs International SAR Websites NASAR SARBC: Search & Rescue Soc of British Columbia SW Tracking Assn of Metro Houston |
Dan Tratnack's Tracking Site Water Work Sites Addt'l Clubs, Orgs & Assns Personal Sites Photos, Tributes & Memorials eMail Lists, BBS, Webrings, etc. Events & Calendars |
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From internationally known Search & Rescue operations like the Oklahoma City bombing and Mexico City earthquake to daily searches for missing persons - snow, land, and water rescues dogs and their handlers provide an invaluable and irreplaceable service. Besides extensive initial training programs, dogs and their handlers participate in ongoing training and practice and are tested both, competitively, and against standards, to verify their skills and abilities. Frequently, these are volunteer teams who, besides their 'real jobs' put an incredible amount of their 'spare' time and energy into developing their skills, working with and caring for their dogs, and assisting those in need, when called upon. In this section, I have provided previewed links to some of the best SAR related sites on the internet. However, I must admit, this is one area where the sheer volume of information did not allow me to include as much directly-linked access as I would have liked to. Instead, I have included links to several of the best SAR organizational and personal sites, as well as, a few select indexes, which will provide visitors with a pathway to a wealth of online information. Many of these sites host SAR related news, calendars, articles, standards, stories, photo galleries, links, resources and tools, etc. Competitive Tracking and Water Trials are based upon working histories which included search and rescue function. These tests are designed to measure some of the same traits, instincts, and abilities as those desired in SAR canines. The Colonial Newfoundland Club's Water Rescue page states, "The Water Test offers the Newfoundland an opportunity to perform a series of exercises designed to show their natural life-saving instincts." and, according to the AKC Tracking Regulations, the purpose of tracking competitions are " . . . to demonstrate the dog's ability to recognize and follow human scent, a skill that is useful in the service of mankind". Read the story of Ariel, a VST dog, and her handler, Christy's, introduction to search and rescue in The Source, by Ed Presnall and Christy Bergeon, 1998©. The photos contained within the SAR section have been provided by Absaroka Search Dogs and were taken by team members. Please remember, all photos and other graphic elements presented at the DI are not to be downloaded, duplicated or, otherwise manipulated, without prior authorization. |
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| SERVICE & THERAPY DOGS |
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Reviewed in this section: |
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Intros & FAQs Articles & Stories Assistance Dogs International Canine Companions for Independence Delta Society Guide Dog Assn of NSW and ACT (AU) Hearing Dogs for Deaf People Training Centre (UK) InterMountain Therapy Animals |
Intl Assn of Assistance Dog Partners New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs Northeast Rehab Hospital's AFT Seeing Eye Home Page Addt'l Clubs, Orgs & Assns Individual Dogs/People Pages Photos, Tributes & Memorials eMail Lists, BBS, Webrings, etc. Events & Calendars |
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INTRODUCTIONS & FAQS
 The series of photographs below are of "Lucky", a smooth Collie who was the service dog partner of Quint Meenen until 7/25/2005 when he passed away. Lucky was born 4/7/95 and had been donated to Paws With A Cause by his breeder Frank Jewett of Maji Kennels near Jacksonville, Florida. After extensive training in their Grand Rapids, Michigan facility, he was partnered with Quint Meenen. Field training to develop their working partnership lasted six months. The team was first certified 10/16/97. In honor of his working career, Quint named him Lucky PAWS in Action when they were certified as a team. When Lucky passed, Quint wrote . . . "The hole in my heart belongs to you, my regal lad. When I think of you, I'll remember you as a sweet, gentle and sensitive boy that loved and helped me. You will forever remain in my heart and someday we will be reunited. You are in a better place now where you can finally be free of cancer's pain. You fought it as the stoic boy you are. I'll see you again - that I promise you. When you see Bootsie or Puff, they will introduce you to Lady. Run free, romp around and get aquainted. Please tell them someday I will be with them once again. God Speed, Mr. Lucky. I love you. I'll always love you." Quint has requested that memorials be directed to Collie Health Foundation. RIGHT: Lucky, was a certified Paws With A Cause Service Dog (right), he could carry things from room to room for his friend, Quint. Here he was carrying a sack from the kitchen to Quint in the den. Click on the photos for a larger view. 
Dogs have long been bred and trained to be of assistance to humans by performing a variety of services and functions. Livestock guarding, hunting, herding, tracking, protection and more . . . for centuries, dogs have truly proven themselves to be "man's best friend" as both aide and faithful companion. This is nowhere more evident than in the variety of ways in which service and therapy dogs provide measurable health benefits and services to improve the quality of life and health of their human companions and friends. Service dogs live with and assist humans with hearing and vision impairments, and other physical limitations. More recently, persons with additional medical conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and seizure disorders are being shown to benefit from service dog assistance.LEFT: Assistance dogs frequently do light switches for their disabled partners.  Therapy and Visitation dogs, working with human volunteers, visit with the ill and invalid, as well as persons going through rehabilitation programs. Further, with the advent of some new, innovative programs such as the Eden Alternative (linked below), the elderly and others in nursing homes and long-term care facilities are able to live with, and care for, dogs and other pets. Two sites which provide an introduction to, and overview of, these types of programs, including pointers to additional resources, are: Cindy Tittle Moore's Service Dog FAQ and Diane Blackman's Animal Assisted Therapy Page. RIGHT: Lucky picked up dropped items such as keys.  From the members of the Puppyraisers Email List, the Puppyraiser Web Site! contains both general service dog related information as well as information specifically related to the work and experiences of the volunteer "Puppyraisers". The Paws With A Cause website contains a good deal of information related to that organization, its programs, and areas covering the different types of services the dogs perform. LEFT: Lucky would bring a soda from the fridge to Quint in any room of the house. To Top To the S & T Dog Index
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| MISCELLANEOUS & MULTI-TOPIC |
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This section is for sites covering less well known and/or represented competitions and activities as well as "Working Dog" sites that cover a variety of activities and/or disciplines. |
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Reviewed in this section: |
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Den Trials & Working Dennis Reay's Earthdog FAQ American Working Dog Assn |
Associated Sheep, Police & Army Dog Soc NATURE: Extraordinary Dogs/PBS WORKINGDOGS.com |
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The DogInfomat™ est. 1994 © 1994-2005/Sandi Dremel The original content, concept, and design of the DogInfomat are the property of Sandi Dremel. All content submitted for inclusion remains the sole property of it's owners. As such, none of the contents made available at the site are to be copied, redistributed, retransmitted, or repurposed without the prior consent of it's owners. |
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Verified: January 22, 2002
The 
NOTE: Although, per the site's entry page, the long time staple "A Breed Apart" has been gone to the "electronic graveyard", this article was still available on 5/27/2003.