3 area residents participate in K-9 search-and-rescue program

Daily Citizen, July 28, 2001 

DOUSMAN – Learning from one of the nation’ s best teams in K-9 Search And Rescue isn’t that hard, especially when the instructor teaches classes 40 minutes away.

Three area residents along with their dogs Julie Kolp and Mic (Australian shepherd), Shannon Arritola and Julius (German shepherd), and Amy Toll Bork and Toby (Rottweiler/English springer spaniel mix) are participating in K-9 SAR classes. The classes are taught by 91 lBC, K-9 Search and Recovery, which is a non-profit, all-volunteer team headed by A.J. Marhofke and his two border collies, Molly Mae and Zip.

Marhofke held the fourth annual K-9 Search And Rescue Seminar on June 23 at his farm in Dousman. Both of his border collies were adopted from Border Collie Rescue. Molly Mae is strictly for rescue (live victims) and Zip specializes in forensic evidence such as drops of blood, hair strands and other small traces of skin or body fluids. Marhofke and Zip have been featured on Animal Planet’s K-9 to 5.

The SAR seminar had about 42 dog/handler participants. SAR canines and their handlers work along side police and fire/rescue personnel. The dogs must be trained to work around all rescue type equipment. The purpose of the seminar was to simulate a real search.

The Dousman fire department brought squad cars, ATV’s and an ambulance. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s department landed its helicopter in the training area. The dogs must become accustomed to a helicopter landing, hovering and taking off at close range. For most of the participants, this was the first time they were exposed to a helicopter that close. The dogs were also introduced to search and rescue teams on horseback.

The seminar also discussed chain of command during a search, helpful equipment the K9 SAR teams should have and what to do once a victim is found

Global Positioning Systems were highly recommended. Robert Leonard, fire chief, of Dousman Fire Department, demonstrated a search and find with the GPS. Detective Mike Andree who runs the forensic evidence unit of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s department, demonstrated how to excavate a burial site that has been found by the dogs. Other people who assisted in the seminar included Captain Mike Neiman of the Dousman Fire Department, Lieutenant Tim Strohbusch of the Dousman Police Department, Jeff Zachow of the town of Summit Police Department and Beth Rewald DVM from the Bark River Animal hospital in Dousman.

Marhofke tells his students “Always trust your dog.”

Marhofke teaches the class based on the regulations of California Rescue Dog Association. Currently, Wisconsin does not have required SAR Certification.

For information about starting a Search and Rescue/Recovery unit in Dodge County and the surrounding area, please call (920) 927-3676.