Hero dogs : how a pack of rescues, rejects, and strays became America's greatest disaster-search partners
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 323-327).

"The true story of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, and the amazing dogs and their handlers that faced off with devastating catastrophes from 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina. In 1995, Wilma Melville volunteered as a canine search-and-rescue (SAR) handler with her Black Labrador, Murphy, in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. At the time, there were only fifteen FEMA-certified SAR dogs in the United States. Believing in the value of these remarkable animals to help save lives, Wilma knew many more were needed in the event of future major disasters. She made a vow to help 168 dogs receive search-and-rescue training in her lifetime--one for every Oklahoma City victim. Wilma singlehandedly established the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) to meet this challenge. The first canine candidates--Ana, Dusty, and Harley--were a trio of Golden Retrievers with behavioral problems, considered irredeemable and unadoptable. But with patience, discipline, and love applied during training, they proved to have the ability, agility, and stamina to graduate as SARs. Paired with a trio of firefighters, they were among the first responders searching the ruins of the World Trade Center following 9/11--setting the standard for the more than 168 SDF search-and-rescue dogs that followed. Beautiful and heart-wrenching, Hero Dogs is the story of one woman's dream brought to fruition by dedicated volunteers and firefighters--and the bonds they forged with the incredible rescued-turned-rescuer dogs to create one of America's most vital resources in disaster response."--Dust jacket.