Serving the community: The gratifying impact of search & rescue
October 10, 2024
Working with the community is important to understand public needs, solve problems, and inspire others, which also aligns with the VBS Department mission. Many VBS faculty, staff, and students serve their communities through volunteering, outreach, and service. Ashley Powell, Postdoctoral Associate working in the laboratory of Professor Kent Reed graciously agreed to be interviewed about her training and working with search and rescue (SAR) dogs.
Tell us about your work?
I am a part of the Minnesota Search and Rescue Dog Association (MinnSARDA) team. I am certified for cadaver work with one of my dogs, and am training two dogs for 'live find in trailing/tracking.' I also am the volunteer coordinator for folks who are interested in hiding for our live find team trainings.
What is the mission/goal for this group?
Our mission is to provide search and rescue assistance in the form on K9 teams. We have live find and cadaver dogs on our team and deploy at the request of law enforcement.
Why do you feel this work is important to you personally?
Search and Rescue has always been something I've been interested in getting involved in. As a kid, I remember hearing about SAR efforts for folks who got lost in the mountains and wanting to one day help others out. While I'm not in the mountains working, it's been rewarding to help assist in the search for folks in more urban environments and bring closure to families. It's an added bonus that I get to do it with two of my dogs and watch them do things they love doing.
How can people learn more about this?
To learn more about the team, visit www.minnsarda.com, or follow on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. Our linktree (http://linktr.ee/minnsarda) also has links to all of our platforms. To learn more about search and rescue in general https://nasar.org/ is the National Association for Search and Rescue and has educational information for SAR of all levels. We are always looking for volunteer hiders and train most Saturday mornings from 9-1ish. If you're interested in spending a morning "lost" in the woods or a coffee shop alone or with a friend, please reach out. We train throughout the Twin Cities metro and post dates/general training locations on social media.
