National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Deploys Rescue Teams to Haiti

  • Jan 14, 2010
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to recruiting rescued dogs and partnering them with firefighters to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters, today announced six Canine Search Teams are en route to Haiti to assist with search and rescue efforts in response to the powerful 7.0 earthquake that struck the island on January 12. The State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance are working in conjunction with California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2), a

FEMA urban search and rescue task force based in Los Angeles County .

CA-TF2, which is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, is one of two U.S. Task Forces charged with responding to international natural or man-made disasters. All six teams deploying with CA-TF2 were trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation to find people buried alive under the wreckage of disasters.

"The Haitian government has requested assistance from the U.S. in responding to the most devastating earthquake to hit the island in 200 years," said Debra Tosch, Executive Director of Search Dog Foundation. "We know that the first few hours after a major disaster has occurred are critical in saving lives and the search and recovery teams are in place now."

Los Angeles team members of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation heading to Haiti today include: 

-- Gary Durian & Baxter - L.A. County Fire
-- Ron Horetski & Pearl - L.A. County Fire
-- Bill Monahan & Hunter - L.A. County Fire
-- Jasmine Segura & Cadillac - L.A. County Fire
-- Jason Vasquez & Maverick - L.A. County Fire
-- Ron Weckbacher & Dawson - Civilian

"Our hearts go out to our neighbors in Haiti, and we're honored to be able to help find survivors of this terrible tragedy," said Bill Monahan a firefighter and paramedic with Los Angeles County Fire. "In addition to comforting victims and their loved ones, we'll be relaying up-to-the-minute news and information through the Search Dogs Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/searchrescuedog."