<\/p>\n
K9 Search and Rescue Team needs the community\u2019s help to continue their mission of helping to find missing people.<\/p>\n
A pancake breakfast fundraiser will be held on Aug. 8 from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. at their \u201cDoghouse\u201d headquarters next to the Dolores Fire Station.<\/p>\n
Meet the dedicated, well trained volunteers, tour the facility, and chip in a $5 or more donation for a meal of pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our main fundraiser of the year,\u201d said response director Chuck Melvin. \u201cWe are all volunteers and have an annual budget of $7,000 to cover our costs for responding to rescues.\u201d<\/p>\n
K9, based in Dolores, is the only independent canine search and rescue organization in the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not collect taxes, and do not charge for our rescue efforts,\u201d said Vanessa Malloy, administration director. \u201cOur insurance costs went up significantly this year. We barely break even.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year, the group has been called out on six missions so far using their search dog Quiddity, an energetic 2-year old Dutch shepherd.<\/p>\n
They responded to a search for a missing child in McElmo Canyon, who was later found safe at a residence.<\/p>\n
In New Mexico ,they responded to a man who went missing while searching for antlers east of Tres Piedres. And recently the team was dispatched to Taos to help find a missing man, who was a former White House chef.<\/p>\n
The K9 team can mobilize quickly to a search and rescue location. They set up a communications, plan a strategic search grid, and send out the search dog and handler teams monitored by GPS, computer mapping, and radios.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do a whole lot of training,\u201d said Vicki Shaffer, base camp operator. \u201cHelping to find the missing is our way to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quiddity is a certified to search for human remains and live finds. He is being trained to search in water, and will be designated a wilderness search dog.<\/p>\n
Volunteers are also trained in search tactics, wilderness first aid, rope rescues, communications, and more.<\/p>\n
They also give education talks to schools to teach children what to do when they get lost and how to safely prepare for outdoor activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore of our rescues efforts are for children and those the elderly with Alzheimer\u2019s or dementia,\u201d Melvin said.<\/p>\n
The group is also looking for more volunteers, including those interested in training to become search dog handlers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need volunteers with a passion for helping people to take over the program when people start to retire,\u201d Melvin said.<\/p>\n
To improve their operations, K9 is looking to purchase a good used motorhome to use for base operations and communications in the field.<\/p>\n
Another way to contribute to K9 is to sign up for the Community Rewards program at City Market or Amazon Smiles. The companies donate a percentage of what you spend on shopping to the organization.<\/p>\n
For more information on how to donate or volunteer, check out the team\u2019s website at http:\/\/www.k9team.org, or call (970) 882-4746.<\/p>\n