SAR Dogs of AMRG

AMRG K9 handlers attended a K9 First Aid / CPR course along with a members from Lower Kiski Search and Rescue and Steel City K9 Emergency Response Team. Thank you to Dr. Donna Schuring from Bradford Hills Veterinary Hospital and Brenda Frank, owner Start The Heart, LLC.

A little Saturday morning training in the Montour Woods.

Post training dip in the pond.

After the conclusion of the SAR Games MRA teams, vendors, speakers and other attendees had the opportunity to bid on great products and SAR gear (gloves, ropes,... helmets, carabiners, jackets, shirts, trips, etc.) during the silent auction. A presentation of colors was preformed by the MRA Honor Guard, PA State Police, bag piper and an AMRG member. Dinner, awards and keynote speaker, Andrew Hower, US Forest Service followed. There will be many pictures, taken by AMRG members, posted in the coming days.

Pre conference air scent seminar.

MRA Conference officially started this morning with opening remarks then breakout lectures and demonstrations.

Day 2 of the K9 seminar at the MRA Conference. Thank you Denise Alvord, Nick Hodgen, Kathryn Bamford and Alex Takcenko for sharing your experience and knowledge. Also thank you to the DCNR staff of Laurel Hill State Park for allowing the instructors and attendees to use the park.

Day 1, yesterday's K9 training at the MRA Conference.

Some more photos from day 2 MRA Conference. K9 trailing with Denise Alvord and Nick Hodgen.

Day 2 of the 2021 MRA conference has the start of our canine seminars. 28 dog handles from around the country working in three separate seminars!

Its conference week! We are looking forward to seeing everyone who are attending.

Several members attended the Fire and EMS Show at the Monroeville Convention Center this weekend. This is one of our biggest PR events of the year. We spoke a...bout the team, answered many, many questions, sold t-shirts, and obtained membership interest. Of course the dogs are always a big hit. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. See more

Come down and meet members, two legged and four legged, of the team today and tomorrow. We are at booth 341.

We had relatively decent weather today for our joint training with AMRG at Camp Kon-O-Kwee. Special guest Abby volunteered as a child wilderness air scent victim. It's important for our trailing and air scent dogs to have experience finding people of all ages.

Joint training with Steel City K9.

Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group Member Spotlight Michelle Bothun How long have you been a member?... Since March 2018 What is your member status (i.e. CQ, Operational, Rescue, etc.)? Ground Unit or K9 Unit or both? Operational. Both If you are on the K9 Unit tell us about your dog. Riley was adopted at 1 year 2 months old in June 2016. He loves to learn more than the physical activity. Riley is a no nonsense let’s get to work K9 but don't let him fool you he does enjoy playing tug, fetch and hanging out with me on the couch. In the past, he trained in agility, but he just was not 100% focused so he then moved into herding sheep (his daddy was a working farm dog) which he loved. Problem was, no sheep herding training centers in western PA. So, in 2019, I started scent work with him using tea bag progressively teaching him the beginning stages of trailing and some scent discrimination. He joined the team in May of 2020. What do you do for a living? Wildlife Habitat Management for the PA Game Commission Where did or do you go to college / university and what is your degree / major? Johnson and Wales University- Occupational Science Degree Baking and Pastry Arts. Oregon State University-Wildlife Capture and Immobilization University of Montana-Wilderness Management What activities do you enjoy? Hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, traveling, and eating foods I have never had before. Why did you join AMRG? As an avid hiker, I would see or hear of people on the trails who were unprepared, get lost or injured. I was fortunate to be able to help some of those people. After seeing an AMRG pamphlet I thought, perfect, I can be a part of a team, learn new skills and help try to bring the missing back to their loved ones. What external certifications did you earn? Cave rescue, Water Rescue and Emergency Response, SARTech II, SAR topo, Managing Search Operations What has been your greatest achievement as a member thus far? Being a part of the 2019 MRA re-accreditation team What skills would you like to learn (cave, water, rope, search management etc.)? Advanced Lines Systems Rescue and continue learning high angle rope rescue and completing Emergency Boat Ops. What is your favorite piece of gear and why? There is a tie, Osprey Kyte backpack because it fits me perfectly and Darn Tough socks, the name speaks for themselves. What is your go-to food / snack in your call out pack? Green Belly Meal 2 Go cranberry/almond bar What has surprised you the most since being involved in search and rescue? The amount of time that is spent in training and travel and the amount of money that is spent on gear as a volunteer SAR member. THAT IS DEDICATION for the love of search and rescue, and I am proud to be a member. Additional information that you would like to share. After graduating from Johnson and Wales University I worked for Disney Paris for one year. During that time, I took two and a half weeks and traveled around Switzerland staying in youth hostels and traveling via foot, boat, train, or bus.

It is with great sadness that SAR Dogs of AMRG and Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group announce the passing of K9 Phoenix. "Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made"- Roger A. Caras. Our condolences go out to K9 Phoenix's handler.

Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group Member Spotlight William Keel How long have you been a member?... 11 Months What is your member status (i.e. CQ, Operational, Rescue, etc.)? Ground Unit or K9 Unit or both? CQ What do you do for a living? IT Analyst at Peoples Natural Gas Where did or do you go to college / university and what is your degree / major? West Virginia University (Business) Duquesne University (MBA & Master of Health Management) What activities do you enjoy? Hiking, Fishing, Kayaking, Camping, and live music Why did you join AMRG? Love for Outdoors and Volunteering What external certifications did you earn? PADI Certification What has been your greatest achievement as a member thus far? Becoming Call Out Qualified What skills would you like to learn (cave, water, rope, search management etc.)? All, but look forward to Ropes and Cave trainings What is your favorite piece of gear and why? Pack, because it would be difficult to carry everything without it What is your go-to food / snack in your call out pack? Almonds What has surprised you the most since being involved in search and rescue? The dog’s ability to search and their various skills amaze me every time I have worked with them Additional information that you would like to share. I currently live in Washington County with my longtime girlfriend Kelli and our 2 dogs Abbi and Rose. We both enjoy traveling and having new experiences.