Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - August 8

The K-9 Search and Rescue Team will again be sponsoring their Annual Pancake Breakfast. Based in Dolores, K9 Search and Rescue Team Inc. is a non-profit organization with no tax base that depends solely on donations, grants, and fund raisers such as the Pancake Breakfast for support. The Annual Pancake Breakfast is the Team’s largest fundraiser and is held during Escalante Day in August, and features a hot cooked breakfast for a small donation. This fundraiser has become a critical link in the Team’s funding chain, as it is their only major fundraising event of the year. The funds from the Pancake Breakfast help purchase and update vital equipment, and maintain basic operational readiness for when the Team is needed. More importantly, it helps the Team to maintain the ability to offer their services free to the lost or missing. Plan to come support the Team, meet the "K-9'ers", view the facility, and hang out with the four-legged members of the team!

MISSION NEWS: Mission 384-10-086/24-6/25/09: Red River, NM Search for Missing Man, Possible Drowning

On Wednesday 24 June, the Team responded to a request from the New Mexico State Police to assist in the search for a missing 29-year old man who was last seen on 6 June, the area of the Red River, NM. No evidence or remains were located.

MISSION NEWS: Mission 383-09-07 6/10-6/11/09: Santa Fe, NM Search for Downed NW State Police Helicopter

On Wednesday 10 June, the Team was honored to respond to a request from the New Mexico State Police to assist in the search for the occupants of a NM State Police helicopter that went missing on Tuesday evening. The Team provided medical back up and support to the mission throughout Wednesday and into Thursday early morning.   The bodies of pilot Sgt. Andy Tingwall and Megumi Yamamoto, a hiker who was being rescued at the time of the crash, were recovered. Officer Wesley Cox, who was acting as spotter, was found by rescuers and was airlifted to St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.   The Team wishes to express its sincere condolences to Sgt. Tingwall's and Ms. Yamamoto's families, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Cox's family at this time.

MISSION UPDATE: Mission 373-08-11, Sept 30 2008, Lime Creek, San Juan County

On Sept 30, 2008, the Team assisted in the search for a missing camper who had become despondent. At the time the missing camper was not located. On Sunday June 14, hikers discovered a body at the Junction of Lime Creek and Cascade Creek, in the water, and this was confirmed as that of the missing camper. An autopsy revealed nothing suspicious and no injuries. The case has been closed. The Team wishes to extend its sympathies to the family.   Click here to see a list of our Mission History.

TRAINING UPDATE: SOUTHWEST SAREX 2009

U.S Coast Gaurd Auxillary patrol the waters of McPhee Reservoir at Southwest SAREX 2009   On the weekend of June 12-14, the Team hosted Southwest SAREX 2009 which was a fabulous opportunity for search and rescue agencies from all over the four corners region (and even Texas!) to attend classes, network, and participate in a multi-faceted mock search. Thanks to all of the participants, volunteers, and everyone else who made Southwest SAREX 2009 such a huge success!

TRAINING UPDATE: Team Returns from ESCAPE

The Team recently attended the ESCAPE Conference in Ruidoso, NM. Hosted by the New Mexico Search and Rescue Council, ESCAPE was a great conference to attend. Members of the Team attended sessions about GPS Navigation, K9 First Aid, Tracking, Sign Cutting, Intro to PIO, Navigation for K9 Handler, Backcountry Medical Assessment, Cold Weather SAR, Human Remains Detection, Psychological First Aid, Reading Pet Food Labels & Team Leader Responsibilities.   K9 Team member Randy Bouet demonstrates the uses of the Astro GPS/Dog Collar system In addition, two of our Team were instructors at ESCAPE. Randy Bouet, Operations Section Chief, taught an exciting class on using the ASTRO tracking system, and Chuck Melvin, Team Commander, taught many classes including one-on-one field instruction with K9 handlers, K9 Scent Theory, Pheromones, ROC & Triangulation, as well as helping to lead the K9 forum.

NEWS UPDATE: High School Students Conduct Winning Science Fair Study of Scent in Flowers

UPDATE - 5/22/09: The two students, Krista Garcher & Stephanie Williams recently attended the Intel International Science and engineering Fair in Reno, Nevada. They were each awarded a $12,500 scholarship to Sierra Nevada College renewable for 4 years. Congratulations to both students!   4/13/09: Two Dolores High School students recently conducted a scientific study of whether flowers (carnations) would transport organic molecules. Pre-study consultations with both biologists and botanists suggested that the molecules would be too big to absorb and the plant itself might somehow change the composition.   The study involving three air-scent dogs from K-9 Search and Rescue Team Inc. indicated that not only could the plants absorb the human remains materials, but that the dogs could detect the scent.   The two students won second place in the regional science fair competition and in addition, secured the two students a place at the International Science Fair in Reno, Nevada.