Dogs to the Rescue

FREE-LANCE STAR
By Jennifer Strobel

It takes determination to start an organization and keep it going--dogged determination, you might say.

There's no shortage of that in the Virginia Search and Rescue Dog Association, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month.

The organization held its first meeting in Fredericksburg Aug. 29, 1977, becoming the first of its kind in the Southeast and only the sixth in the nation relying on air-scent tracking dogs to find missing persons.

The dogs, who undergo rigorous training, can pursue scents carried in the air at distances of up to two miles.

Teams of volunteers work with the dogs in settings including wilderness, water, disaster and forensics missions, both in Virginia and other states.

In 2005, three members of the Virginia group responded to a call to New Orleans' Ninth Ward. There, they joined the New Orleans Fire Department for 20 arduous days searching for people lost in Hurricane Katrina.

Not that it's been all work and no play for the group. In 1978, members walked in the Fredericksburg Dog Mart parade (above), the first of many excursions. In 2005, association members (human and canine) walked in the Inaugural parade in Washington, and later that year, in the Sept. 11 "Heroes' Day Parade" in New Market.

Group representatives also visit Scouts and other groups to educate them on wilderness safety.

An anniversary celebration dinner is planned for next Friday. The nonprofit organization relies on donations for funding. Web site is vsrda.org.

Copyright 2007-2008 by Jennifer Strobel. The Free Lance-Star Publishing Company. Used with Permission. All rights reserved.

Originally published: Sunday, August 11, 2007