Camping!

We are often called out to search for someone who may be in a tent,so today we put up a tent in the woods to get the dogs thinking about this. It was also quite interesting to notice how the dogs found the scent, which was not the same as someone who was not in a tent!
I did have to explain myself to an elderly couple who were out walking their dog though, as they were worried about walking past me in the tent.
When one of the Search dogs (Who shall remain nameless) found me, they leapt onto the tent, and subsequently me! So anyone who is thinking of going camping with one of our team members....make sure he leaves his dog behind!

Conference

This weekend I found myself in Newport Pagnell for the 2017 Lowland Rescue Conference. I had no idea what to expect but decided that if I just met other LR members it would be worth the trip!

It was a lot more than that! There were sessions on all aspects of the role, from Water training, through Rescue Drones onto Cadaver dogs and Radio comms. Besides all the sessions and input, there was plenty of time to meet team members from around the country, making new friends and eating some very nice food. There were stalls set up in the coffee area where we could buy clothing and equipment and also see what sort of kit there is that we might like to use.

All in all an excellent weekend, subsidised by Lowland Rescue.

Cheque this out!

Today our Team was presented with a cheque for £479.68 from our photographer friend Archie. We do a lot of fundraising for our team and there are a lot of people who support our work.
Thank you Archie.

I am a Dementia Friend.

During our indoor training tonight we undertook Dementia Awareness training, many of our Missing persons are living with Dementia and knowing more about it helps us to plan how best we might go about finding them when we are called to search. Valuable training and an interesting insight.

Woolbedding Show

Today Search Dogs Sussex went to the Woolbedding Dog Show, which was set in a very big grassy field. Our team did a stand which offered people the chance of having a go at search and rescue with their own dog in a fun fenced off area.  As well as the stand some of the team took part in the arena dog show classes with their dog, two of the team dogs, Millie and Rowan won rosettes in their chosen classes. Well done them! There is a bit of banter within the team, those who have Collies tease the Spaniel owners and vice versa, being a Collie owner I just had to take a photo of one of our Spaniel owners handling a member of the public's Collie, and have posted the photo just for fun.

Shows are a great way of letting people see who we are and what we do, as well as fund raising and adding to our team members.                                                

 

Three in a row

On Friday we got called out, to the other side of the county, I was advised by my coordinator that it probably wasn't worth me making the two hour drive over there, so I stood down.
Saturday night we were put on Standby for an over the border search, sadly for me this search was to start on Sunday morning and I wasn't available two searches which I missed out on.
This morning at about 3:30 am we got a call out to assist over the border again in another area for a different search.
On arrival at the RV point I met up with Steve, Rich and Steve's dog Ace to become dog team 2. We logged in and were given our brief and a map of the area we were to search and we set off.
We were asked several times to account for who we were, one man being quite rude! We searched both parts of our area and returned to the RV to hand in the de-brief form. As Steve on our team had to then leave they split Rich and I up to make up two more dog teams, this time I was with June and Molly to search a different area completely as they had been given some new information.
June and I made our way to the area and ended up on a flooded boggy path which suddenly became a cow field full of rather young livestock!! They all looked with interest at us but fortunately none decided to come and have a closer look. Just as we got to the end of our search area control called up on the radio with a stand down.
We walked back trying to get as much mud off our boots as possible before getting into Junes car to drive back to the RVP to sign out and attempt to get home through the very chaotic rush hour traffic.

This search had a positive outcome.

NOTE: The dates have been changed on this post and I have not mentioned which areas or counties we were searching in, this is to protect the anonymity of the Misper's, this post it just to show what happens on any search in any area. THANK YOU 

Mine!

When your Granddaughter is playing with the playmobil and finds your Search dog technician.....
"That's not a toy....."