[Konnie Hein]

Here is a link to pics of our FEMA team during the Ernesto deployment. I didn't deploy, but my husband and our older black labrador did (always the bridesmaid, never the bride! :lol: ). My husband (Mark) is the guy in the sandals with the black lab resting at his feet (photo 9). Lots of work getting done down there, as you can see. :wink:

http://www.matf.org/gallery/ernesto?page=1

Also, here is a link to the news video from their day of departure:

http://www.matf.org/video/ernestoCBS.wmv

Mark is the guy in the video with the labrador who gets a little unruly during his "vet check." At 10 years old, the dog is still a pistol!

Luckily, Ernesto fizzled out so there was no need for our team. However, they got some really great training done that you can only do while on the road. Anyhow, thought you'd all like to know where your federal tax dollars are going.

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

So your husband was thinking "phew" stinky old bloodhound" and your lab was thinking

"IF I lay my head just right maybe they will think I'm a pointy eared dog"



Nice pix thanks for sharing.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

........and your lab was thinking

"IF I lay my head just right maybe they will think I'm a pointy eared dog"

And it worked, too!

I love these pics, and I love it that you posted them!

 

[Konnie Hein]

Nancy - you're too funny!

Yes, our black lab wishes he was a pointy-eared dog. I actually can't wait until he officially retires next year because I want to see what he does on a bite suit. I'm betting he'll love it. He's one serious dog!

The "stinky old bloodhound" is a labrador! I know he looks goofy, but Sam is a pure-bred yellow lab. Go figure.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

Nancy - you're too funny!

Yes, our black lab wishes he was a pointy-eared dog. I actually can't wait until he officially retires next year because I want to see what he does on a bite suit. I'm betting he'll love it. He's one serious dog!

The "stinky old bloodhound" is a labrador! I know he looks goofy, but Sam is a pure-bred yellow lab. Go figure.

I had to go back and look at the stinky old bloodhound again........ I see the Labrador-ness now, but I sure did miss it before! Must be the way his face is held -- BOTH dogs were doing impersonations.

 

[Konnie Hein]

Sam does look very much like a hound, but bloodhounds are pretty much useless for urban SAR. Urban SAR requires that the dog be extremely agile. I'm sure there is the odd agile bloodhound out there, but most of them would physically have a hard time maneuvering across rubble. There are other reasons why the typical bloodhound would be unsuitable for USAR, but that's a little beyond the scope of my original topic.

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

Actually when I thought he was a bloodhound I was not going to go there.....

Urban trailing certainly - they seem to excel at that- but I cannot envision a bloodhound on a rubble pile.

I will say thought that my friend is doing some off lead trailing with hers and it is really motivational for the dog. IF you can imagine bloodhound runaways. Next time I go to her house though I am taking a spare t-shirt.

They probably mainly can't do urban because the slobber would drip down in the rubble and drown the victims.

 

[Connie Sutherland]

.... Next time I go to her house though I am taking a spare t-shirt.

They probably mainly can't do urban because the slobber would drip down in the rubble and drown the victims.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Konnie Hein]

I have fond memories of getting slapped in the face and scratched all to hell while assisting/following my old wilderness SAR team's bloodhound and her handler through a cornfield. That was my first time on a real search. And once that dog was on a track, boy could it MOVE! The dog was a huge female and the handler was a tiny woman. What a combination!

And yes, I remember quite a bit of drool...

 

[Nancy Jocoy]

I think jumping on the victim must be a bloodhound thing...but we digress.