International Disaster Search K9 Deployments with Sonja Heritage

In this episode, Retired CT State Trooper Andy Rebmann, author of the Cadaver Dog Handbook, shares lots of great training information and fantastic K9 capers with his Patrol K9s, Trailing Bloodhounds, and Cadaver Dogs. Hard to even scratch the surface of someone with 50 years experience but it was a super fun conversation with a legend in the industry. Thanks for the chat Andy! Andy's bio: Andy has been involved in search work and K-9 training since 1972. He is a retired trainer for Connecticut State Police. During his police career, he trained K-9 teams for patrol, tracking, trailing, narcotics, explosive, arson, wilderness, disaster, water and cadaver work. He developed the State Police training program for cadaver search dogs. Andy trained and handled bloodhounds from 1973 until 1990. His hounds were responsible for over 200 walk-up “finds.” The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld several cases on appeal. In addition, he has qualified in several states and Scotland as an expert witness regarding scenting dogs. He established the CSP SAR K-9 Team and served as team leader and search coordinator. Since retiring in 1991, he has conducted numerous seminars, schools and workshops throughout the U. S., Germany, Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada and Japan. Seminars and workshops include cadaver, disaster response and urban trailing. He is a consultant to law enforcement agencies. Andy is the retired past president of Northwest Disaster Search Dogs, Redmond, WA. The unit provides disaster search trained K-9 teams in support of the Puget Sound FEMA Task Force as well as local response. He is a founder of King County Search Dogs, a multi-tasked K-9 search unit that supports King County Police Special Operations for missing person searches. He has been a member and instructor for the National Police Bloodhound Association since 1974. Andy has participated in over 2000 missions in his career in a variety of roles; Trailing dog handler, cadaver dog handler or in a search management capacity. He has presented numerous papers at national seminars and is the author of “The Cadaver Dog Handbook,” published August 2000. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

CLICK THIS LINK TO VOTE:  VOTE TODAY - VOTE DAILY - PLEASE SHARE: https://www.landroverusa.com/experiences/events-and-sponsorships/defender-service-awards/vote/search-and-rescue.html October 21, 2022 – Today, Great Basin K-9 Search and Rescue was named a finalist among Search and Rescue organizations in the Land Rover ‘Defender Service Awards’. The Utah charitable organization was recognized for its work in training, certifying, and fielding Search and Rescue canines along with their handlers to help locate missing people. As a finalist, Great Basin K-9 Search and Rescue will receive $5,000 from the presenting sponsor, CHASE. Inspired by endless acts of service across the U.S. and Canada from extraordinary citizens, Land Rover launched the ‘Defender Service Awards’ last year to celebrate U.S. and Canadian-based charitable organizations that are making a positive impact in their local community. To honor the legacy of Defender vehicles aiding organizations who serve their communities, Land Rover will award a specially outfitted Land Rover Defender 130 SUV to the five winning organizations based on Public Vote, to help further their charitable efforts, plus $25,000 from the category sponsor. Public voting opens October 21, 2022, through November 6, 2022 on LandRoverUSA.com. The winners for all five categories will be announced on November 12, at Destination Defender, a weekend celebration of the Defender lifestyle located in the New York Hudson Valley. For more information about Destination Defender, please visit  LandRoverUSA.com. “Our sincere gratitude goes out to the over 800 charitable organizations who submitted entries for this year’s Defender Service Awards.” said Joe Eberhardt, President & CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “The twenty-five finalists captured a special spirit of service which is part of the fabric of our brand. We look forward to sharing the finalists’ entries with the public and wish them luck.” “We, the members of Great Basin K-9 Search and Rescue, are deeply honored and humbled to be among the five finalists in the Search and Rescue category of the Land Rover Defender Above and Beyond Service Awards. We are so grateful to Land Rover, Chase, and Pelican, for this opportunity to win the Defender and associated awards to improve our capability to respond to search and rescue/recovery missions throughout Utah and neighboring states. Our mission is to field well-trained Search K-9/Handler teams to best serve our community by bringing missing loved-ones home to their families.” Search and Rescue Award, Presented by Pelican Great Basin K-9 Search and Rescue, Inc. (Kamas, UT) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gbk9sar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gbk9sar --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Renee (Retired Col. Annette Renee GrandPre) has lived a life of service from start to finish. With military deployments to Kosovo in 2006 and to Kandahar in 2018, she rounded out her military career as a full bird Colonel with too many awards and decorations to enumerate, culminating most recently with the Legion of Merit award. Her civilian work as an ER, Trauma, ICU and Psychiatric care nurse in Los Angeles lead her on a path to pursuing work as a Coroner Investigator for the County of Los Angeles. Among her accomplishments while at the Coroner's Office was starting a Human Remains Detection K9 Program. This episode is a must listen for HRD Handlers and CSI enthusiasts. It gives a detailed perspective of the inner workings of the largest coroner's office in the United States, the forensic considerations and details for skeletal remains and body recovery, and a handler's journey with a wonderful HRD K9 named "Indiana Bones!"  Follow this link to a youtube feature with Renee and Indy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1WcZ7sgz48 If you enjoy this podcast, please give it a kind review and check out these links To learn more your host Sonja Nordstrom and her K9 training, follow these links:  American Tactical Aggregate K-9 |  Sonja's Dog Training Email: [email protected] |  [email protected] Websites: www.atak9.com | sonjasdogtraining.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 | www.facebook.com/sonjasdogtraining2 www.instagram.com/ata.k9 | www.instagram/k9_top_tales YouTube: ATAK-9 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Fred "Big Fred" Fusco of Storm Tactical Consulting  Website: stormtactical.wixsite.com/stormtactical   IG: www.instagram.com/storm_tactical_consulting/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC0KNW8fzQrOZgCSxQXHoHzA In this episode, Fred shares his training and deployment mission experiences and what it takes for a dog to make the grade in Special Operations.  Fred is a retired US Army Special Mission Unit Operator, K9 Handler, and another member of the American Tactical Aggregate K-9 training team. He served more than 20 years in Army Special Operations including 12 years as a Green Beret working as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and as an Operator from the US Army Special Mission Unit. While assigned there, he served as an Assaulter, Master Breacher, Sniper, Operations Sergeant Major, and completed 10 combat deployments as part of the Global War on Terrorism in both overt and covert roles. Since retiring, he has worked in the civilian sector as special operations K9 project manager, tactics and shooting instructor, assault climbing instructor, and as a contract trainer for BORTAC team, Naval Special Warfare Training Group 2, 75th Ranger Regiment, and multiple law enforcement agencies.ATAK-9 has a cadre of exceptional K9 and tactical instructors/consultants and offers workshops and full courses. Follow these links to learn more about American Tactical Aggregate K-9: Email: [email protected] Website: www.atak9.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 YouTube: ATAK-9 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Please enjoy this episode with SHANNON KRIEGER, a person who has served the United States with dedication, sacrifice, and honor.  From 1999 - 2012, Shannon Krieger was a working K9 handler and trainer for Special Operations Forces (SOF) and a K9 program that would become one of the best practical military initiatives in the last century.  That initiative was the Combat Assault Dog (CAD) program in USSOCOM. In 1993, Shannon started at the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment where he became a Rifle Squad Leader.  In 1998, he became a member of a Tier One Unit within the US Army. Shortly following 9/11, Shannon was a member of the Assault team when the US launched a Direct-Action retaliatory strike against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. During follow-on operations, Shannon was injured in a helicopter crash that permanently changed his life and career path but which ultimately led him to a primary position to continue to build the CAD program.  As a dog handler, trainer and program manager, Shannon travelled the world in search of the best training and canines for the SOF mission, pulling the best training techniques from KNPV, Schutzhund and Ring Sports and melding them into practical techniques that are combat proven. For more information about ATAK-9 cadre of exceptional instructors/consultants, workshops and full courses, follow these links: Email: [email protected] >> Website: www.atak9.com >> ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all >> FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 >> IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 >> YouTube: ATAK-9 If you enjoyed this podcast, please drop us a kind review! Also, please check out these links for more info from your K9 Top Tales host: Heimdallr K9 Services - Personal Family Executive K9s - heimdallrk9.com Sonja's Dog Training - Behavior, Scentwork, and Detection K9 Training - sonjasdogtraining.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

ATAK-9 Instructor/Trainer Spotlight #1 - Steve "Zane" Stoops: Welcome Steve of American Tactical Aggregate K-9 (ATAK-9) to K9 Top Tales. Steve has evolved through 3+ decades to become the dog man of dog men. He has vast field experience as a police K9 officer serving 20 years, international contract K9 Handler and Program Manager, and since 2004, a lead trainer for the Special Operations community with duty tours worldwide.  ATAK-9 has a cadre of exceptional K9 and tactical instructors/consultants and offers workshops and full courses.  Follow these links to learn more: Email: [email protected] Website: www.atak9.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9  IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 YouTube: ATAK-9 Podcast highlights: 13:00 - Primary threats to tactical K9 work 24:00 - The passive resister 25:20 - "Nemenistic" Training 31:00 - Tier One K9 - ReisenSchnauzer "The Creep" 39:20 - Thoughts on testing and equipment 48:00 - Talking Dog Sports 53:00 - More about Steve and American Tactical Aggregate K-9 (ATAK-9) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

In light of the recent and very tragic Condominium Collapse disaster in Surfside, Florida, I called on a long-time Search and Rescue K9 colleague and friend, Deresa Kenney (Teller,) who is a one of the original FEMA Disaster K9 Handlers. In this episode, Deresa not only tells of her experiences while working large scale disasters such as the Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, and other disaster sites, but also shares her knowledge and insights regarding the work of FEMA Disaster Response K9 teams and the requirements to become a Certified and Deployable FEMA K9 team.  Minute 29:05 Discussion re Surfside Condominium Collapse Deresa is retired from Los Angeles City Fire Department where she served the majority of her 35 years as a paramedic. She now owns and operates a dog training business, Bella's K9 Babies (https://bellask9babies.com), specializing in puppy socialization and the scentwork/nosework.  Show Sponsors: SONJA'S DOG TRAINING:  www.sonjasdogtraining.com ~ Offering one-on-one general training and detection/scent work workshops and seminars for the SAR/Human Remains Detection K9 Handlers and Trainers. Sonja brings to training an extensive history and a unique blend of K9 sport, SAR K9 training and field work, investigative field experience, legal and courtroom experience, and a treasure trove of component and precision-based K9 training techniques to address the most challenging aspects and applications of Human Remains Detection K9 training for both Handler and K9. Now also available via Zoom! HEIMDALLR K9 SERVICES: www.heimdallrk9.com ~ Heimdallr Services, is a supplier of top quality K9s for personal, family, and executive protection. Heimdallr conducts hands-on selection from the finest breeders and kennels in Europe to locate top tier dogs selected for their courage, stability, sociability, and health. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding adding a protection dog to your home and look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a kind review and share this podcast with your friends! Thanks all. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Rose (Rosalie) Cox is a one of a small number of women who paved the way for female handlers in the Patrol and Detection K9 world.  She is one of the hardest working folks in the industry and has walked the walk starting back in 1987 as a Handler for the Utah Department of Corrections.  In 1990, she joined the Salt Lake City Police Department as a Patrol Officer and quickly became a K9 and SWAT Trained Officer. After years working two dual-purpose Narcotics / Patrol K9s, Rose partnered with a single-purpose Explosive Detection K9 that she trained and worked during the 2002 Winter Olympics.  Throughout her K9 career with SLCPD, Rose provided training at Utah POST to K9 Handlers and also ran her own kennel, Oquirrhberg Kennel; breeding, training, and selling dogs for Law Enforcement throughout the country.   After retiring from SLCPD, she grew her business and continued teaching, training, and working her own detection K9s at a variety of venues. She has trained 1000’s of K9s and worked with countless Handlers through the decades.  Humble and unassuming, a true blue and respected individual who always puts the well-being of the K9s and the officers they serve first. Rose is an advocate for K9 throughout the state of Utah and has hosted and/or judged the Utah Police Officers Association K9 trials for years.  I hope if you enjoy this episode that you'll take the time to leave a kind review, and share K9 Top Tales with your friends. Happy Training all! Sonja Nordstrom Heimdallr K9 Services - Providers of top tier personal/executive/family protection K9s selected from the best dogs in Europe, delivered personally by Heimdallr K9  to ensure a smooth integration of a protection K9 into your home. Sonja's Dog Training - Offering Detection/Nosework/SAR Seminars and workshops as well as one-on-one training for your family dog - now also offering remote training via Zoom and telephone consults. Sonja's Dog Training Blog with lots of Training Tips for the Detection K9 Handler --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Roy Lopez has a very impressive and long history of service, starting out as a Navy Seal, a Veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then joining the Border Patrol in 1997 where he became one of the founding members of both the US Border Patrol’s BORSTAR team and the BORSTAR K9 Program.  While working his dogs Malcolm and Alex in tracking and cadaver and amassing nearly 2000 rescues/recoveries, Roy developed a full HRD course for the Border Patrol, the Federal Government’s only complete HRD course. Graduates of the 400 hour course include Border Patrol Agents, State and Local Law Enforcement and many Foreign Law Enforcement Officers.  Roy is a Master Trainer of Cadaver Detection and Tracking and Trailing Teams for the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA). In this role, he has had the opportunity to train and certify volunteers and law enforcement teams from around the country. Roy retired from the Border Patrol in December 2019 and immediately founded Core Canine Concepts, LLC. corecanineconcepts.com. Through this new venture he desires to impart his vast experience and knowledge to enhance the skills and abilities of K9 Teams throughout the world.  Be sure to listen to the end where Roy shares an important lesson learned after a search in which he and his K9 Alex rescued a kidnapped 3 week old infant (starts at 52:30). Show Sponsors: SONJA'S DOG TRAINING:  www.sonjasdogtraining.com ~ Offering one-on-one general training and detection/scent work workshops and seminars for the SAR/Human Remains Detection K9 Handlers and Trainers. Sonja brings to training an extensive history and a unique blend of K9 sport, SAR K9 training and field work, investigative field experience, legal and courtroom experience, and a treasure trove of component and precision-based K9 training techniques to address the most challenging aspects and applications of Human Remains Detection K9 training for both Handler and K9. Now also available via Zoom and Facetime! HEIMDALLR K9 SERVICES: www.heimdallrk9.com ~ Heimdallr Services, is a supplier of top quality K9s for personal, family, and executive protection. Heimdallr conducts hands-on selection from the finest breeders and kennels in Europe to locate top tier dogs selected for their courage, stability, sociability, and health. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding adding a protection dog to your home and look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a kind review and share this podcast with your friends! Thanks all. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support

Well, this is episode #8 (not #7 - apparently I've lost track)! So many experiences shared in this episode. Sonja Heritage is likely one of the most experienced FEMA Disaster Response Search and Rescue Dog Handlers and trainers in the United States. As a former member of the FEMA Virginia TF1 and State Department Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance USAID, she has traveled the world for more than two decades with her Disaster SAR K9s, responding to earthquakes, bombings, hurricanes, and mudslides in Turkey, Nairobi, Haiti, Taiwan, and throughout the United States. Currently a FEMA Certified handler with FEMA’s CATF-5, her most recent deployment was the Montecito California Mudslides in 2018. Sonja has deployed with four of her own K9s but also been responsible for the training of many FEMA Disaster response K9's privately and as the Head Trainer for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation in Southern CA from 2012 – 2018. She has also received numerous awards and commendations for her work and training provided to others.  Sonja Heritage can be located on Facebook at Heritage K9 LLC. Here is a list of Sonja's Disaster Deployments with her K9s: FEMA and the State Department   Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance USAID Montecito Mudslides 2018 Haiti Earthquake. Port–au- Prince, 2010 Hurricane Earl 2010 Earthquake, Chile 2010 School Collapse, Port–au- Prince Haiti 2008 Hurricane Gustav 2008 Hurricane Ike 2008 Hurricane Ernesto 2006 Hurricane Isabel, Fairfax VA 2005 Hurricane Ophelia 2006 Hurricane Rita, Dallas TX 2005 Hurricane Katrina, Gulfport MS and New Orleans LA 2005 Earthquake, Bam Iran 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia, TX 2003 Pentagon, 2001 Pentagon- Operation Nobel Eagle –Human Remains Recovery 2001 Earthquake, Toliou, Taiwan 1999 Earthquake, Izmit Turkey 1998 US Embassy, Nairobi Kenya 1998 Show Sponsors: SONJA'S DOG TRAINING:  www.sonjasdogtraining.com ~ Offering one-on-one general training and detection/scent work workshops and seminars for the SAR/Human Remains Detection K9 Handlers and Trainers. Sonja brings to training an extensive history and a unique blend of K9 sport, SAR K9 training and field work, investigative field experience, legal and courtroom experience, and a treasure trove of component and precision-based K9 training techniques to address the most challenging aspects and applications of Human Remains Detection K9 training for both Handler and K9. Now also available via Zoom and Facetime! HEIMDALLR K9 SERVICES: www.heimdallrk9.com ~ Heimdallr Services, is a supplier of top quality K9s for personal, family, and executive protection. Heimdallr conducts hands-on selection from the finest breeders and kennels in Europe to locate top tier dogs selected for their courage, stability, sociability, and health. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding adding a protection dog to your home and look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a kind review and share this podcast with your friends! Thanks all. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/k9-top-tales/support