Go Virginia Search and Rescue!

Here's a video clip of Virginia's FEMA International Team at work:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/01/14/levs.haiti.crew.rescues.man.cnn?hpt=C2

Here's a short raw video clip of a Search and Rescue canine hard at work in Haiti and what Tank is training to do:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/01/14/levs.haiti.crew.rescues.man.cnn?hpt=C2

FEMA news

MacGyver and Tank passed their FSA (foundation skills assessment) on Sunday! He had several types of tests to pass, including no dog or stranger aggression, agility, directability, 5 minute down-stay, and searching for two victims on a limited access pile. Ike has been suffering with a terrible episode of asthma so the kids and I missed out. But, Mac said that even though it was a long day with 8 or so dogs in various stages of testing and retesting, Tank did great! He has worked so hard to get this far, we both feel an equal sense of excitement and relief! Although the hardest part is behind us, they are slated for two more trips before they are finally certified. Go Machine and Tank! These are pics of them cramming for the final and cleaning up Tank's directablity at WMFD's new and improved station, burn tower and cache site for FEMA's COTF-1. Check out all that equipment!

Open House at the Fire Department

MacGyver's department had their annual Open House Saturday. He and Tank spent about three hours demonstrating a Search using 5 different bark barrels. The kiddos and I went and had breakfast and checked out some of their equipment, watched 'our boys' work and took the last puppy from our litter, Grizzy, the biggest of the chocolate pups. Four different families wanted her. She ended up settling into the EMS Chief's family, who fell head over heels in love with her. We delivered her to her new home a couple of days later. On the way home, the kiddos were asking their daddy about the hierarchy of Lieutenants, Captains, Chiefs, and Battalion Chiefs. Out of the back seat, Izzy says, "Daddy, is your Italian Chief really Italian?"  We laughed and laughed and then explained to her that they are Battalion Chiefs...not Italian Chiefs.