AMES, Iowa (CitizenWire) — Sometimes a hero is found at the local animal shelter. Moses, a three year old yellow lab/golden retriever, who is a certified search and rescue dog, found a missing Alzheimer’s patient earlier this month. “It takes a dog with the right stuff,” said Robin Habeger, of Paws of Life Foundation, and Moses’ handler and trainer. “Often that means the dogs do not make a good pet.”
Moses was relinquished to the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines in the spring of 2008 and placed with Habeger that summer. He started his training when he was six months old.
“Moses isn’t afraid of much and loves to bark for his toy, which is how he told me he found the missing man,” said Habeger.
Habeger and Moses certified in January, eight days after Moses turned two. “He’s a great search dog and loves his job,” Habeger added.
The man had been missing from his care facility for approximately six hours dressed in only socks, jeans and a light shirt. “With temperatures around 40 degrees during the night, exposure and hypothermia were real threats to this man’s health and well being,” said Officer Jason Tuttle who helped organize the search that night. “Without these types of highly trained dogs, we may have not had such a happy ending.” Officer Tuttle is with the Ames Police Department.
Moses and Habeger train and deploy with STAR 1 Search and Rescue, Iowa Task Force 1 and are in training with Nebraska Task Force 1. Moses was found through a program between the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the Paws of Life Foundation.
About Paws of Life:
The Paws of Life Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization devoted to the training and education of search and rescue K9 handlers. Paws of Life also work with humane societies and animal shelters to home appropriate dogs in working dog homes. You can find more information at www.pawsoflife.org .
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