Collie Rescue Louisiana

Local border collie honored for finding trapped victims

The experience of being trapped for days in a building that collapsed after a powerful earthquake must rate as one of the most cruel dreams of destiny.

But sometimes, against all odds, those who were buried by falling debris were found by rescue dogs specially trained to identify victims who live in such natural disasters as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.

An extraordinary life of these dogs here in Kern County and has received 12 American Kennel Club has annual award for Excellence Fund Humane Canine - in the search and rescue dog category.

The dog's name is Hunter, and it is a sweet, energetic border collie eight years from Tehachapi.

"It is one of our most valuable tools," said Billy Monahan, manager of the hunter and a captain in the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

"These dogs are trained to prepare constant," Monahan said. "You never know when you'll be held accountable."

The national award recognizes five dogs each year who have made significant contributions in different categories: as companions, law enforcement, service dogs, therapy dogs - and of course, search and rescue.

"The dogs we pay tribute to ACE Award show the impact of a dog alone in a community can do," said spokeswoman Lisa Peterson American Kennel Club.

In fact, the Hunter has impact can be defined as the difference between life and death.

Together, Hunter and Monahan sought miles of flattened buildings and structures covered with hazards such as broken glass, wood was cracked and exposed nails.

Earlier this year, they have been deployed in Japan after the nation suffered an earthquake and a tsunami.There they worked in aftershocks, tsunami warnings, frost and snow.

In January 2010, the couple was in Haiti after deadly earthquake in that country. This is where Hunter detected and prevented Monahan live human scent while searching the debris of a four-storey building collapsed. Because of his efforts, rescuers were able to take three girls, still alive in the rubble.

The man and his faithful dog has not had the chance to stay for the rescue, which took place several hours after Hunter identified the location.

"We are the research team," Monahan said."The rest of the team rescue those trapped.

Collie Club Helping Members In Hurricane Zone

The Collie Club of America (CCA), formed in 1886, established the breed standard in the U.S.

It is one of the oldest specialty or one-breed clubs in existence.

“We are finding other people in the middle of finding these people,” said Patti Merrill a Neptune Beach, FL member who wants to establish an organization that would do fund-raising as well as find local rescue needs and fill them.

Merrill is one of the national organization’s 2, 200 members and the president. She was looking for people over the Labor Day weekend, trying to locate 14 members in Louisiana and Mississippi who were victims of the most unique hurricane.

One of Merrill’s goals as president – she’s up for re-election – is to start a Collie Rescue Foundation, a club that would exist outside of the CCA that would raise money and help at the local levels.

In the last 21 years there has never been another club member at the beach like Merrill.

In other hurricane news, Kenner resident Mary T. deBrueys, 50, suffered only minor damage to her home but her income in New Orleans is gone.

“No one is there,” she said.

She is hoping that some parts of the business will be salvageable, but she can’t count on anything being there for quite some time.

“I’ll make my own money, I just need something to catch started,” said Casimir Pfalzgraf, a Chalmette resident, 49.

Like many middle-class residents who have been devastated by the fury of Katrina, he has found himself like he could never have imagined.

“For the first three days I was in denial,” he said.

According to the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (NRCFCPPP) children without parents due to natural disasters have always brought out the best in the American people. The organization said that it is expected that any unaccompanied children will be reunited with nuclear family members as soon as possible.

The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse has information in the right-hand column on their station to search for foster care and adoption hotline numbers in your spot.

AdoptUSKids has position and local response teams information on their site to which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have provided funding.

The website, Foster Care Month has information for those desiring to provide some immediate assistance to children and families with other resources listed on the page.

The Waterways journal

The Sabbath recorder

The Friend

The Dog fancier

Project BREED directory