Man's best friend has a duty
Dogs are a key to success for area search and rescue teams

A few weeks ago Doug Meredith asked me to give a talk about the Top of Texas K9 Search and Rescue Association to his follow members of the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls. When preparing my speech, I had a hard time trying to put into words how the team members have devoted countless hours and selfless dedication to make this SAR team a reality. It was even a more difficult task to describe the tireless loyalty and willingness to learn the dogs have shown their masters. Then I remembered the words of Sen. George Graham Vest.
Vest won a court battle and the hearts of dog lovers everywhere when he paid his famous tribute to the dog during the 1870 Burden vs. Hornsby court case. Vest's words describe exactly the dedication shown by the dogs of our search and rescue team. He said:
"Gentlemen of the jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action.
"The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog."
"Gentleman of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that encounters the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."
The Top of Texas K9 SAR Association is made up of the following individuals and their dogs: Marie Molsbee and her dog Sapphire Rose from Nocona; Dan Verritt and his dog Bob from Henrietta; Cheyenne McBride and his dog Scooby from Jolly; and finally, myself and my Labrador, Ammo.
Another important part of the team is the flankers who help the dog handlers during searches. It is the flanker's responsibility to maintain communications with the base operations, provide land navigation information and serve as an extra set of eyes and ears while on a search.
Cathy Anderson of Nocona currently serves as the flanker for Molsbee. If you do not have a dog but are interested in serving as a member of the team, there is a desperate need for more flankers to assist the other handlers and dogs.
From 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Petco of Wichita Falls will host a "Get to Know Your K9 Search and Rescue Team" event at the store, 4319 Kemp. Come by and meet the team.
If you are interested in joining or would like more information about search and rescue training, team members will be on hand to answer all of your questions. If you are unable to attend, tax deductible contributions can be sent to: Top of Texas K9 SAR Assn., 2 Newcomb Terrace, Wichita Falls, TX 76308.
Remember: This is your search and rescue team. As one team member stated: "I would rather be trained and not be needed, then to be needed and not be trained." If you cannot actively join the team, you can still make a difference by donating money to help in the team's training. None of us ever expects to experience a tragedy that would necessitate calling out the search and rescue dogs. But when lives are on the line and time is critical, a well-trained local SAR team is invaluable.
Eamon P. Riley is a professional dog trainer and animal behavioral consultant. For suggestions or comments, he can be emailed at dogmanusmc@aol._com or by calling 689-9483.