K-9 Boo
Beloved Partner of Tami Treadway

Boo started his life out being rescued by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) from an owner who was abusive. Boo was treated at a local Animal Hospital and held at Animal Services. He was bruised and cut but his spirit was not broken. After a year long legal battle Boo was awarded to the Animal Services for adoption. He had heartworms and mange and went through treatment.

I had just started volunteering with Sarasota K9 Search & Rescue & I felt Boo had all the skills for search work. I saw the drive, spirit and abilities in Boo that would make an excellent search dog. He had lots of stamina and nerve strength even though he had been abused by humans.
For the next 10 years Boo and I became highly skilled in all phases of search and rescue. He was ready to search at anytime and acted like training was the real thing. He earned his CGC, American Temperament Test and Therapy title and visited area schools and civic groups to demonstrate the importance of being safe. Because Boo was so versatile and represents the issues of animal cruelty, animal adoptions, foster care, search and rescue and veterinarian care he was selected as the Southwest Florida Veterinary Medical Associations first recipient of their “Hero Award” in 1999. Boo had gone from being rescued to a rescuer.

Boo had been my partner and soul mate since I adopted him in 1998 but he passed away suddenly on March 13, 2008. He amazed me everyday at the stamina he had for a 13 year old dog. He searched with all his heart and soul and loved to serve. He has watched over my children and our home and taught all our new search puppies the ropes. His trust, caring and commitment to me and the community makes him a real K9 hero.

Aixport due Moulin de Soulage
A.K.A. "Scout"

5/17/85 to 5/15/96

Scout was the first Beauceron in the United States to be a SAR dog. Scout worked until the day before he died from a ruptured tumor of the spleen (cancer). He was an exceptional dog who earned a stellar reputation with emergency people in our area. Police departments would call us even though they had K-9's on staff, when they had a situation that Scout could handle. His ability as a SAR dog was recognized by all those who worked with him or watched him. Although years have passed since he left, he is still my most treasured companion and partner. Words cannot describe how much we all miss him.

Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran faith, once said, "Fear not, little dog. In the world to come, you too shall wear a crown of gold." I should hope so.

Just-a-Wynter Witchcraft
"SAR K-9 Diana"
Beloved Partner of Judy Otto

October 29, 1999 - Sept. 5, 2007

SAR K-9 Diana sacrificed her life in the line of duty, during a search training exercise on a misty night when visibility was poor. She died instantly as the result of a 12' fall from an unsuspected overhang into a gully filled with bricks. My team helped bury her on family property, beside her consort, SAR K-9 Max (2/22/93-9/19/06), who had cherished her faithfully in life, and predeceased her by less than a year.

One moment, she was my sassy Princess, full of life and fire and attitude, supremely confident that the world was created to amuse and adore her. The next, she was gone.

Her joyful enthusiasm for her work; the eagerness with which she threw her heart into giving her best and boldly tackling every challenge; and the exuberant delight and pride she took in "showing off" her expert skills-confident, poised, charming and gracious to strangers-all made Diana a perfect ambassador at SAR demos. She was a born showgirl who loved the spotlight and the attention of the audience-and she made people smile.

I have been amazed and humbled by the outpouring of sympathy, and the realization of how many people loved Diana, and how many lives she touched during her life of service.

I am proud to have had such a special partner, and thankful that she left me in a blaze of glory-happy, triumphant, at the top of her game, knowing she was loved and valued-and without suffering. I will forever miss her vibrant presence-effervescent, irrepressible, full of herself, supremely confident of her 'SAR-power' and her right to rule her full-grown sons with an iron paw-and, above all, a master communicator of her overflowing joy in life and her love for me.

Till later, Diana.

FREDERICK ARGO VON KITCHENS HAUS
"FRITZ"

SEPT. 1996 - NOV. 2007

Beloved partner, friend and companion of Jim and Dee Park for eleven wonderful years. His work ethic was beyond comparison. He always came through with anything and everything he was asked to do. He will be greatly missed in the search and rescue community for his unfailing work. He was nationally certified during his career by NAPWADA, NNDDA,and AMERICAN WORKING DOG in trailing and HRD. He was called out by many law enforcement agencies and was a proud member of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's TEAM ADAM.

"I firmly believe that any dog's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle with a ball in his mouth."