 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Fallen and Retired K-9's
With K-9 Search & Rescue, we not only have K-9 "tools", but we also have friends. We bond with our partners, and our partners bond with us. We become friends, and trust each other, sometimes with our lives. We feel that our K-9 partners know that sometimes their job is to go where it's unsafe for humans. They know we only do it because we're trying to save another human life. They do what we ask without hesitation and without fear. They know they are helping us.
For these reasons, we have started this Retired & Fallen K-9 page, to show everyone how much we love and care for our partners. They work hard, day and night, in snow and rain, only to do the only thing they know how to do, find people. Just because one of our partners retires or passes on, does not mean they should be forgotten. Here are the stories of our retired or fallen partners.
K-9 Pete
September 15, 2003
In Memory of K-9 Pete
"The Original Search Dog"
Operational Status : June, 1996 - Air Scent
Operational Status : July, 1997 - Cadaver Detection
Search Deployments : 43
K-9 Pete was one of the first operational SAR Dogs of SMSARD. Mary Cather was her owner & handler. She will long be remembered as one of the "hardest" female search & rescue dogs. Her intense drive and overwhelming desire to work, made her one of the strongest SAR Dogs on SMSARD.
K-9 Pete was the first-due dog on water searches, and her cadaver detection was second to none. She was deployed to locate a human bone after Law Enforcement had searched the area and was unable to locate it. Pete took all of 5 minutes to scan the area and recover the final piece of the body.
After the September 11th terrosist attacks, K-9 Pete and her handler, Mary Cather, were slated to go Staten Island, NY to assist in the detection of human remains, but prior to the deployment the operation was suspended.
K-9 Pete far exceeded the standards set forth by SMSARD. We could only be so lucky to find another K-9 with half her heart and desire.
Scott Earhart
Founder
Southern Maryland Search & Rescue Dogs Inc.
K-9 Pito
April 29, 2000
K-9 Pito came to SMSARD when he was only 8 weeks old. He was quickly named "The Torpedo" after his first puppy runaway. He was being trained in Air-Scent and Cadaver Detection. Pito unfortunately never made operational status with SMSARD. He seemed to have a learning disability, where he seemed to not be able to learn. He knew how to search, there's no doubt about that, but simple obedience he never seemed to catch on.
Pito will always be remembered as a loving partner, as he was most happy being around people, and greeted everyone with a wagging tail and a wet, sloppy lick of the face.
On April 29, 2000, Pito was laid to rest by his handler and friend, Chuck Spafford. Pito underwent some intensive training at Working Search Dogs, and he began to elicit signs and symptoms of hip displaysia. His handler made the very difficult decision to end his potential suffering while he was happy and able to walk with his held held high. Pito will always be remembered by his handler as his beloved friend and dedicated partner.
Farewell, my friend... I will never forget you.
Chuck Spafford, SAR-03
K-9 Molokai
April 19, 1999
Molokai was the first SAR K-9 for SMSARD. He was trained in Air-Scent and Cadaver Detection. Molokai responded to over 50 search missions, and has numerous finds to his credit. Molokai excelled in Cadaver Detection and assisted many local, state, and Federal Agencies in criminal cases.
On April 19, 1999 Molokai was retired due to a hip injury he received during training. He is resting comfortably at home with his family, and will always be remembered by SMSARD as, "The SAR Dog That Set The Standard".
Scott Earhart, SAR-01
