In this episode of HFA Christy Bormann joins us to discuss Category 5 K9 and their process of taking shelter/rescue dogs and turning them into search K-9s.

Christy has been involved in K-9 Search and Rescue for over 20 years and has done both Wilderness SAR and Urban SAR throughout her history in Search and Rescue. Christy is a founding member of Category 5 K9 and serves as the K9 Training Coordinator for Texas A&M Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team. Christy has certified and deployed multiple K9s in disaster environments across the globe.

During this episode we discuss the work of Category 5 K9, and their mission of taking unwanted dogs and putting them in the hands of capable detection handlers across the U.S. We also spend time discussing how Christy evaluates shelter dogs to determine if they are the right fit for Urban SAR, Wilderness SAR, or detection jobs.

If you have a passion for Shelter/Rescue dogs and turning them into working dogs, this is an episode that you do not want to miss!

References mentioned in this episode:

Category 5 K9: https://www.cat5k9.org/

Texas A&M Task Force 1: https://texastaskforce1.org/

Cat 5 K9 Evaluation Process: https://www.cat5k9.org/screening

Category 5 K9 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAT5K9/

In this episode of HFA Dr. Mark Marsolais joins us to discuss evaluating prospective SAR K9s utilizing the Brownell-Marsolais scale.

Mark Marsolais is a Professor of Criminal Justice and Security at Thomas College. Sam Houston State University awarded him a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. In addition to his doctorate, Professor Marsolais has a B.S. degree and M.A. degree in Psychology. He specializes in teaching criminal justice, policing, homeland security, conservation law, evidence, critical issues, and special topics (e.g., Police Use of Force; Search and Detection K9s). Professor Marsolais served over 20 years with the Houston Police Department as a patrol officer, criminal investigator, Internal Affairs investigator, and supervisor of patrol, defensive tactics, and special operations. In addition to his policing experience, Professor Marsolais served as a director of national and international canine detection programs for a Washington-based security firm. Since the late 1980s, he has been involved in canine search and detection as a hander, trainer, and educator. He has direct experience with deploying canines to search and locate human remains, wanted suspects, contraband, lost persons, and disaster victims.

During this episode we take a deep dive into the Brownell-Marsolais scale developed by David Brownell and Mark to evaluate SAR K9s to determine their suitability for their prospective jobs. The scale measures three components of prospective SAR K-9s

• K9 Sociability
• K9 Drive and Motivation
• K9 Nerve Strength

We use this episode to explore each component and how they are tested to determine a candidates suitability for SAR work.

If you are looking for a tool to evaluate prospective SAR K-9s this is the episode for you!

References mentioned during this episode:

Hunt-Find-Alert Facebook: Hunt-Find-Alert:K9 SAR Community | Facebook Ground Zero Emergency K9 Training: https://www.groundzerosaveslives.com/

In this episode of HFA Ian Maslin joins us to discuss the importance of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) for SAR responders.

Ian is a Certified Traumatologist from the Traumatology Institute and Certified from UMBC in Critical Incident Stress Management. He is an Advanced Approved Instructor with The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. A Peer CISM responder with British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, and Emergency Support Services. He is also a Community Care Nurse in the Lower Mainland of BC. Additionally he serves as the Training and Competency coordinator for British Columbia Search and Rescue association Critical Incident Stress Management program.

During this episode we discuss the essentials of why SAR teams should implement a CISM program, and the positive benefits a well coordinated CISM program can have for team cohesiveness. We also breakdown the essentials of what's in a CISM program, and how each element is utilized after a stressful situation. We concluded the episode by providing resources that SAR teams can utilize to implement a CISM program for their local team.

References mentioned during this episode:

Talking Trauma Website: https://talkingtrauma.com/

International Critical Incident Stress Foundation: https://icisf.org/

Kent Harrison Search and Rescue: https://khsar.ca/

Ian's Phone Number: 604-316-2079