SEARCH DOGS: Volunteers Train For Disasters
More than two dozen dogs are in the metro training to help in disaster situations.
27 dogs from ten different states are working on their skills in Johnston.
The pups are disaster search dogs, meaning along with their handlers they respond to disaster situations to help find the missing.
Friday’s training focused on handlers instructing their dogs at a distance. The pups are also working on agility and how to get firm footing in rubble.
The dogs and their handlers all work on a volunteer basis, but they know their services are vital.
Instructor Robin Habeger explained, “I was one of two instructors in Haiti and there was a lot of closure for a lot of families because of what we did. And I couldn’t imagine being in their situation and not knowing.”
The training changed its hours to keep the dogs and handlers safe in the heat.They start earlier in the morning and take a longer afternoon break. The training runs through Saturday at Camp Dodge.
