Search and rescue dogs find lost teen

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

By FRANK HARTZELL Of the Advocate -


Miss Shasta and Anastasia are Fort Bragg's newest heroes, after the two search and rescue dogs located a missing 13-year-old boy in Russian Gulch on Friday.


The two German Shepherds, 4-year-old Windriders' Anastasia owned by China Comer, and 2-year-old Redwood Coast's Miss Shasta owned by Scott Alexander, were called out on Friday morning and located a boy who had threatened suicide. The boy was located and then treated by Mendocino County Mental Health officials.


Mendocino County Sheriff's Department Lt. Don. L. Miller said the dogs are effective helpers to law enforcement who have saved the department time and made important finds.


Other efforts have included finding a lost mushroom hunter and a lost elderly person.


The latest call was Friday at 9:30 a.m. Alexander said when they arrived, each dog was given a sniff of the boy's shirt after they arrived and were told the boy had taken off into the forest. The dogs quickly found the teen's scent on switch backs in the forest.


Both dogs have had more than 1,000 hours of training and are "air scent" search dogs, meaning they can search for a lost living human anywhere. Other rescue dogs can be trailing, tracking or cadaver search dogs.


Alexander said after the search had been under way for about an hour when State Parks rangers brought more clothing.


"The dogs can be restarted. They get the smell again and get really riled up and back on the trail," Alexander said.


A few minutes later, at about 11 a.m. the dogs located the boy, with the two handlers right behind. Alexander said the boy said he was hiking to the falls but had no shoes on and was wearing a t-shirt and shorts in the cold weather. The dogs wear orange search and rescue vests so as not to frighten someone who might not realize the dogs are part of a search team.


Miller said there are about 25 people on the coast's search and rescue team, with the two dogs that took part in Friday's search now certified. Another dog is currently in training by owner Carla Canclini.


Miller said the search and rescue dog team was also responsible for finding three murder suspects who were later convicted in the killing of a man whose body was found off a logging road.


"There is always a need for these dogs. They detect things we can't with their senses which are fantastic. They provide a great service," Miller said.


Rescue dogs must be super high-energy and motivated, as well as canine Einsteins.


Alexander, who has owned and loved German Shepherds continuously since he was a boy, said search and rescue dogs are an elite group, even among a breed known for intelligence and discipline. The search and rescue team is run through the sheriff's department with Miller as area commander. There is also a separate inland search and rescue team.


Scott Alexander's daughter, Kate, picked Shasta out of two litters that totaled 23 dogs. She is 12 and counting the days until her 13th birthday when she can become part of search and rescue training.