Joe Mayers and K-9 Partner Char Bon

Joe Mayers started to help train dogs at age 10, when his father had Joe reinforce techniques he was teaching Retrievers. He never lost interest in it. He joined LaSAR in 1998 and obtained his NASAR SARTECH II soon thereafter. He and his black lab K-9 partner, Char Bon, have received their NASAR CANINE SARTECH III certification. While in the military, Joe was a structural fire fighter and now he is a Reserve Deputy for Iberia Parish Sheriff Office, working with Char Bon to meet the parish's search and rescue needs. Joe is an Instructor for LaSAR and heads up LaSAR's Western division, based out of Lafayette, LA. He is a member of NASAR and the Canine Search and Recovery association.

Dale McWilliams and K-9 Partners Minnie and Rowdy

Dale and his K-9 partners Minnie, a Saint Hubert Jura Laufhund, and Rowdy, a Bloodhound, joined the LaSAR Dog Team in 2003. Prior to joining the team, Dale and his K-9s were members of the Las Vegas Metro Police Search and Rescue Bloodhound Team. Dale also spent 30 years employed in the computer industry in Silicon Valley, California. Dale completed his NASAR SARTECH II™ Certification. Dale and Minnie are certified as NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ in Tracking and Trailing. Both Minnie and Rowdy have achieved their Canine Good Citizen status through AKC. Dale is a reserve officer with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.

Cindy Nelson

Cindy, her husband Perry and their canine, Jake began training with the LaSAR Dog Team in 2002. Cindy is a First Responder with the Deville Volunteer Fire Department in Deville, Louisiana and is also a licensed Amateur Radio Operator (N5CCN). She is now preparing to take the NASAR SARTECH III™ exam and next will begin preparing for the NASAR SARTECH II™ exam. She handles much of the Logistics and Communications for the LaSAR West Team. When not training, Cindy brings Jake or their other canine Clyde, to visit at the V.A. Medical Center and various Nursing Homes in the Central Louisiana area. Cindy enjoys training with the LaSAR dog team, reading, camping and crocheting.

Perry Nelson and K-9 Jake

Perry and his K-9 partner Jake, a Labrador Retriever, began training with LaSAR Dog Team in 2002. Perry completed his NASAR SARTECH III™ in February 2003 and his NASAR SARTECH II™ in November 2003. Perry and Jake are working toward obtaining their NASAR Canine SARTECH III™. Jake has achieved his Canine Good Citizen status through the AKC. When Jake is not training he visits local nursing homes, rehabs, the V.A. Hospital and makes frequent visits to PetsMart. Perry works as a Paramedic and has been involved in Emergency Services for over 20 years. He is a training officer for the Deville Volunteer Fire Department, a Bureau of EMS Instructor, American Heart CPR Instructor, American Red Cross First Aid / CPR instructor and he is a reserve Deputy with the Rapides Parish Sheriffs Department. Perry enjoys Scuba diving, camping and most outdoor activities.

Matt Payne and K-9 Partner Wolf

Matthew Payne and his K-9 partner Steppenwolf a Doberman Pincher (better known as Wolf) have been in search and rescue with Civil Air Patrol(1998,) Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department(2001,) and LaSAR (2001.) Matthew has completed his NASAR SARTECH II™ in June of `02. Matthew and Wolf have completed their NASAR SARTECH III™ air scenting in November of 2002, and land HRD in February of 2004. Matthew and Wolf are currently responding to as many searches as Matthew's work and school schedule allow. Matthew has also been a reserve deputy for Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office since December of `02. Wolf has also received her Canine Good Citizen Award in November of `01. Wolf has also been certified through the Delta Society Pets for Health Therapy Dogs in August of `01. In addition to volunteering his search and rescue work and reserve deputy time, they have responded to many searches in their career. Matthew also enjoys scuba diving, camping, and training dogs. Matthew is a full time dog trainer at the Kennel in Lafayette, and is also a full time student hoping to become a vet.

Pam San Fillippo and K-9 Partner Allie

Pam and her K-9 partner Allie, a Golden Retriever, have been a member of the LaSAR Dog Team since 2003. Pam is an EMT, an LPN, and has been a career firefighter since 1984. Her current position is with the Bay St Louis Fire Department. Pam completed her NASAR SARTECH II™ Certification in November of 2003 and she and Allie have achieved their NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ Canine Certification. Allie has also achieved her Canine Good Citizen status through the AKC. In addition to volunteering her time for search and rescue work, Pam also enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and traveling.

Francine Spiehler and K-9 Partners Snowball, Blue Boy and Boston

Francine began showing Walker Hounds with her Dad as early as 1974, enjoying field trials and bench shows. Now she and her husband breed and train for show American Pit Bull Terriers. Her SAR work began in 1993 with the first American Pit Bull Terrier, Snowball, to be trained for SAR in the South. She has since certified him in wilderness, land cadaver, water cadaver, building, urban and evidence search. As of 1994, she has responded to over 100 searches. She is a member of the Louisiana Mass Fatalities Taskforce. In February 2000 she received her NASAR SAR Tech II™ certification and is working toward obtaining the NASAR Canine SAR Tech III™. Currently she has started training a second dog, "Blue Boy," a Walker Hound/Catahoula Mix. Both Snowball and Blue have their Canine SARTECH III™ Air Scenting and Land Cadaver certification. Francine is currently working a new American Pit Bull puppy named Boston.