The North Alabama Search Dog Association (NASDA) was founded in 1996 in Northeast Alabama.[1] It's founders include: Darcy Harbaugh, Ana, Janet and David Geist.[2] It is a non-profit organization created for the training of search and recovery dogs. Like many SAR organizations, it has different search methods for different needs. There are search dogs that use airscent, tracking, trailing, human remains detection, and even work in natural disaster recovery. Any dog can be a search dog if their trainer and them have the right mind set for it. Training for SAR takes a lot of time and a lot of determination. NASDA members practice at least once a week for three to four hours at a time. During these practices, volunteers are “lost" and are searched for by members of the group with their search dogs.
The Founders
editDarcy Harbaugh and her dog Ripley (1992 - 2005) were both the beginning of NASDA. Ripley was Darcy's start in obedience and tracking which eventually turned into SAR (Search and Recovery).
Janet Geist leads the Lost in the Woods program. She works both live and cadavaer with her dogs Jester and Chaos.
David Geist support for the team, but now stays home to watch the kids while Janet is training for SAR.
Ana worked both, live and cadaver, with her dog Sampson (1995-2006), but she no longer works with NASDA.
Search And Recovery Dogs
editAirscent dogs, otherwise known as wilderness search dogs, will use the wind and air to locate someone. Instead of following an exact trail, like trailing dogs, air scent dogs attempt to find the victim by concentrating on the strongest scent. Also, unlike tracking dogs, air scent dogs will work without leashes and when the victim is found they will return to their trainer to alert them. This is one of the quicker ways to locate someone, because they are able to cover a lot more land in a shorter period of time.
Tracking and trailing search dogs will search for the subject from ground scents and follow the subject’s trail straight to them. These dogs are often used for adolescent runaways, dementia patients, and escaped criminals. They can also follow trails that could be from several hours to several weeks old, making them a useful asset to any search team.[3]
Cadaver, or human remains search dogs, are usually used on boats to search for deceased victims in waterways. Although they do not spend all their time on the water. They are also used to find hidden bodies of murder victims and find evidence in criminal investigations, such as blood and body remains. These search dogs are able to detect certain chemicals given off by decaying flesh.
Disaster rescue dogs are similar to air scent dogs, because they do not require a trail to find victims. They are used to reach places that might be to high or too small for the trainer to reach. This job is probably one of the hardest for the trainer and the dog, and does requires a lot of training.[4]
Other members of NASDA
editThe members of the NASDA team are determined to find lost citizens and remains everywhere across the Southeast. NASDA also holds training seminars to educate the public in hiking safety and disaster survival. [5]
Some of the members, the dogs, and their work: [6]
Larry: River and Cotton - Live and Cadaver
Candace: Gaby - Airscent
Bud: Bruno - Airscent
Lisa: Baxter - Cadaver
Terri: Brandy - Airscent
Len: Rudy - Airscent
Mary Margaret: Scout - Airscent
Sandra: Scarlett - Airscent
Len: Max - Live
Rod: Chelsea - Trailing
John: Tazer - Airscent
Tamara: Sigi - Airscent
Bonnie: Aiden - Trailing
Kate: Libby - Cadaver
Joan: Jaiden - Cadaver
Shirley: Lacey - Trailing