LaSAR Dog Team P.O. Box 2477 Slidell, LA 70459

  

Mission Statement

The members of Louisiana Search and Rescue Dog Team (LaSAR) have made a commitment to assist the community by training dogs and their handlers to excel in the rescue or recovery of those in need and to work in conjunction with law enforcement agencies to bring about a successful conclusion to the search. It is this commitment to the community, which remains the guiding force behind LaSAR.

Background

• The concept to start the first search and rescue dog team in Louisiana began in late 1989. After months of research and development to put together a solid training program, the first dog began training with its owner/handler in March of 1990.
• In January 1991, LaSAR was founded as a totally volunteer, non-profit 501.c.3 organization involved in search and rescue of lost or missing individuals. The team is based in St. Tammany Parish.
• LaSAR is not bound by any parish or state boundaries and is available to local, state and federal agencies on a 24 hour basis at no cost to the agency or family.
• LaSAR is a member of National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), and Southeast Louisiana Search and Rescue (SELSAR). LaSAR is also the canine resource for Louisiana Mass Fatalities Taskforce.
• Teams (a dog and its owner-handler) are tested and must pass strict national certification standards before being allowed to respond to a call out. Teams are certified in one or more of the following disciplines: wilderness, water, building, cadaver, disaster and urban capabilities.
• All members are trained in first aid, CPR, search protocol, first aid for the dogs, crime scene preservation, wilderness survival, hazmat awareness, and bloodborne pathegeons.
• Dogs are trained to identify human scent and have the ability to discriminate one human scent from another.
• In water searches, the team works out of a boat with the dog locating where the body's scent is breaking the surface of the water. This gives the divers or other volunteers a specific area to search for the body.
• Several members are reserve deputies with St. Tammany, or Washington Parishes.
• LaSAR has several certified instructors of the Hug-A-Tree and Survive program, which teaches young people how to survive if ever lost in the woods. This program is presented at schools, churches, scout meetings, etc. at no charge.
• A LaSAR member served 3 years as the NASAR SAR Dog Section Chairperson
• Two LaSAR handlers are members of the Federal Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team for Region VI (FEMA).

LaSAR's Accomplishments

• Since our first call out in May 1991, we have responded to over 300 call outs.
• LaSAR has responded to call outs in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Canada.
• LaSAR search dogs were involved in the New Orleans Riverwalk Disaster.
• LaSAR search dogs were officially called out for the Amtrack Disaster on the Chickasaw River, in Saraland, Alabama.
• LaSAR search dogs have successfully rescued numerous Alzheimer patients and lost hunters.
• LaSAR search dogs have successfully alerted to the location of many drowning victims. Some located under both water and marsh and under water and sand as well as locating double and triple drowning victims.
• LaSAR members worked for several weeks in Louisiana and Mississippi, helping clear numerous areas after Hurricane Katrina.

Special Training

• Members have received National certification in NASAR's SAR Tech II® which covers land navigation, mantracking, field first aid and rope utilization in search and rescue work.
• Members and their canine partners have received National certification in NASAR's Canine SARTech III™ in the disciplines of Area Search, Land Human Remains Detection, Water Human Remains Detection, and Tracking and Trailing.
• Members and their canine partners have received certification through NNDDAA in the disciplines of Land Human Remains Detection.
• Members invited to attend the Louisiana Mass Fatalities Taskforce course through the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. Having attended, LaSAR dog handlers are part of the Taskforce as the canine resource for any mass fatality incidents which occur in Louisiana requiring implementation of the Taskforce. Program was developed in conjunction with FEMA guidelines.
• Members train with the U.S. Coast Guard in loading and unloading safely from a helicopter with its rotors running, basket lifts and actual flight time with their search and rescue dogs.
• Members attend a week-long cadaver course under noted international instructors Andrew Rebmann, retired Connecticut State Trooper and Marcie Koenig.
• Members attend tracking seminar held at Angola State Penitentiary in Louisiana.
• Members attend search and rescue dog training seminar held by North American Search Dog Network in Mississippi.
• Members attended National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) conferences held in Arizona, Tennessee and Oregon.
• Members attend two High Country Work Dog Seminars held by Justice Canine Training and Research Center in North Carolina.
• Members attend search and rescue dog training seminar held by Texas Search and Rescue Association.
• Members train with Long Beach Dive Team in water work.
• Members train with St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Division in swamp survival and traveling techniques.
• Members attend Advanced K-9 Trauma Care Program in Maryland.
• Members attend NASAR conferences in Arizona, Tennessee, Oregon, North Carolina, and Colorado.
• Members attend several hazardous materials seminars.
• In addition to attending seminars, several of our members have instructed at seminars around the country and internationally.

It should be noted that LaSAR members paid for their own expenses when attending seminars both locally and out of state.

Hug-A-Tree and Survive Program

LaSAR has several members certified to present Hug-A-Tree and Survive, by the national organization, which developed the program. The program is presented to young people in Kindergarten through 8th grade at no charge. The program addresses wilderness survival techniques, which can be utilized if ever they become lost in the woods.

The search dogs demonstrate their capabilities in the field to give the students a better understanding of the role they play in a search and rescue situation. The students are then instructed as to the proper way to introduce themselves to a dog and are allowed to meet each dog, implementing the proper technique.

LaSAR has reached over 70,000 young people in schools, scouting and church groups in both Louisiana and Mississippi.

For further information, please contact us.