Active Members

Lisa Higgins and K-9 Partners Molli and Maggie

Lisa was the first to come up with the idea of having a canine search and rescue team in the state of Louisiana. In 1989, she brought a group of people together to discuss pursuing this ideal. After that meeting she and her daughter Troi-Marie were the only two that moved forward to help form the first search and rescue dog team in the State of Louisiana, LaSAR.

Lisa has devoted herself to helping local, state and federal agencies dealing with searches for missing persons, lost hunters, homicides and article searches for murder weapons. She has responded to over 250 searches in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and Vancouver, British Columbia with her canine partners Frosty a Golden Retriever, now deceased, Molli, her Labrador Retriever, and Maggie, her Australian Shepherd. On her first search, she and her canine partner Frosty located the body of a drown victim that was four feet under water and three feet under sand. This would mark the start of search and rescue canines being used in the state on a regular basis.

She, Molli and Maggie have obtained their NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ certification in Land HRD and NNDDA HRD. Lisa also serves as a Coordinator for the NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ program. In addition, she is one of two handlers qualified as an "Expert" in canine body recovery in New Orleans Criminal Courts. Lisa has worked in law enforcement since 1982, currently serving as a reserve officer with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office. A SSgt. with the Special Operations Division she works with the mounted and K-9 SAR units and serves over 1,000 volunteer hours yearly.

Lisa is a member of the Federal DMORT Region VI Team, Louisiana and Texas State Mass Fatalities Taskforce. She is the recipient of the NASAR 2001 State of Louisiana Award for excellence in canine training and response, and the proliferation of the NASAR SARTECH™ Certification Program in the State of Louisiana. Lisa has also co-authored several articles and a book chapter on water search and recovery.

Dee Wild and K-9 Partner Sky

Dee has over 30 years experience training dogs. She co-founded LaSAR in 1989 along with Lisa Higgins and has served as Director of Training since its inception. Dee has responded to over 150 searches across the South and as far away as Canada. She has instructed land cadaver, water recovery, air scenting and tracking/trailing at numerous seminars across the United States.

Dee recently founded the National Search Dog Alliance (NSDA) in March 2007 which is serving as the national organization supporting canine search and rescue. She served as the organizations first President and is currently serving on the Executive Board. NSDA is actively developing and implementing national standards, educational programs, and training conferences all geared toward improving canine search and rescue. NSDA issues a monthly newsletter to over 1,000 canine handlers in the US and abroad. While the organization was initially set up as a national organization, it has quickly become an international organization.

Dee and her K9 partners Sky (currently operational) and former K9 partners Maggie and Spice, have all obtained national certifications in area, land human remains, and water.

Dee is, is an active member of the Federal DMORT Region VI Team, holds a commission with the St. Tammany Fire Protection District No 1, Louisiana Mass Fatalities Taskforce, holds an administrative commission with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office and served as the NASAR SAR Dog Section Chair for four years. Dee is the recipient of the NASAR 2001 State of Louisiana Award for excellence in canine training and response, and the proliferation of the NASAR SARTECH™ Certification Program in the State of Louisiana. She has authored or co-authored several articles and a book chapter on water search and recovery.

Calvin "Bud" Kline and K-9 Partner Fancy

Bud is an EMT and Volunteer Firefighter with St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1 in Slidell, LA. Bud has been in emergency service for over 30 years and joined the team in April 2002, with his English Springer Spaniel, Fancy. Bud is the LaSAR President. Bud has obtained his NASAR SARTECH II™ certification. He and Fancy have obtained their NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ - Land Cadaver certification.

Philip Kuper and K-9 Partner Kiva

Phil Kuper joined LASAR with Kiva in 2001.

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.

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.

Ann Dugas and K-9 Partner's Sonny, Tanner and Katie

Ann joined LASAR in 2007.

Paal & Denise Liset and K-9 Partner Nola

Paal, originally from Norway and his wife Denise, Canadian, were transferred from Norway to Houston, Texas in June 2002.

Prior to moving to Houston, Paal has been involved with dog training since 1995. He obtained his NASAR SARTECH II™ certification in October 2003. In May 2004 they were transferred from Houston to the New Orleans area.

Paal, Denise and K-9 partner Nola, a female Belgian Malinois born June7 2007, started training with the LaSAR Dog Team in the fall of 2007.

Nola obtained her Canine Good Citizen certification through AKC June 2008 and she is currently working towards becoming Field Operative for LASAR in air scenting. Nola has also started her training for Humane Remains Detection.

Gary Lea and K-9 Partner Tracker

Gary started training with LASAR in 2007.
Tracker, born December 2008, is a new addition and has begun his training.

Applicants

BJ Snyder and K-9 Partner Hunter

Darin Dantien and K-9 Partner Black-Jack

Linda Pailet and K-9 Partner Gator

Steve Martin and K-9 Partner Sophie

Jan Soeten XV and K-9 Partner Harper

Honorary Members

Jason Bilnoski

Henry Foley

Kathy Davis

Donna M. Dicharry, RN, MSN

Donna has a Master's degree and 25 years experience in nursing, including over 10 years as a Director for Cardiopulmonary Rehab departments. Currently, retired her interests includes reading, martial arts and dancing. She has been working with the LaSAR Dog Team since November 1999 as a helper (often a decoy). She obtained her SARTECH II™ certification in July 2002 and along with being LaSAR Secretary, now handles much of the logistics and communications for LaSAR.

Michael J. Dicharry, LtC, US Army (ret) and K-9 Partner Jake

Mike spent 24 years in the military, both Navy and Army. He has been training as a dog handler with LaSAR Dog Team since November 1999. He has obtained his NASAR SARTECH II™ certification. His Belgian Malinois K-9 partner Jake, is NASAR certified as SARTECH III™ for both tracking/trailing and wilderness searches. Additionally Jake is LaSAR certified for water searches and NNDA certified for HRD. Mike is a reserve officer with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.

Eddie Clift and K-9 Partner Hannah

Eddie joined the LaSAR Dog Team in 2003. Eddie has completed his NASAR SARTECH II™ certification in November of 2003. He achieved the NASAR Canine SARTECH III™ Certification in air scenting with his previous dog. Hannah a Belgian Malinois is a new addition and they are currently training to be certified for HRD