Sandy Springs resident trains dogs, handlers in search and rescue

Sandy Springs resident Alex Pierce spent a recent Friday speaking virtually at SARCON 2024, the annual gathering of search and rescue professionals.

Collier – a K9 search and rescue (SAR) handler and member of the Georgia Community Emergency Response Team (GA-CERT K9) – spoke about the importance of public awareness, volunteer involvement, education, and community support in successful SAR operations.

She highlighted a local K9 Youth Handlers Program they designed to engage and educate young community members in the principles and practices of search and rescue.

Collier has been involved with search and rescue for about nine and a half years. Her background is in animal husbandry and dog training. She brought home a boxer dog that was a working dog that needed a job. After trying a few options, the pup, Kane, ended up in search and rescue and has been on approximately 50 searches.

She joined Redemption Road K9 to found GA-CERT K9. They are trying to build a more comprehensive program to go beyond a localized SAR team and instead reach out to minority communities especially to provide education and let them know how to get involved.

“What I found is, if you can do this in a way that feels like a game or play for the dog, it usually goes really fast,” she said.

Collier sticks to a routine with her dog when on a search so it understands when it’s time to go to work.

Now, she works with the La Sierra University Criminal Justice Department as they change how people can learn with a higher-level education.

Shrin Shahor, the treasurer for GA-CERT K9 and a SAR handler herself, said one of the group’s major goals is to provide that service in partnership with first responders.

The pilot program class graduated in May. Standard classes will include K9 first aid and CPR, and the history of the working dog.

Redemption Road K9 owner John Anthony Shahor, another certified canine SAR handler, said handlers get trained to understand how SWAT teams and other law enforcement members work in the field.

Some law enforcement agencies call for SAR volunteers regularly but other departments – including Sandy Springs and Atlanta – rarely call. Collier said her first search had 150 people on hand. A single officer accompanied Collier, John, and Shrin on her last call

Dangers of the job include heat and hydration during summer with high temperatures. Fentanyl can be a high risk, so they have Narcan with them if their dog or they are exposed to it.

Collier’s decision to start training other handlers and dogs came after a tragedy. Her brother had gone missing and she had trouble with the local police department. Offers to use volunteer SAR teams were not taken to help find him.

“Unfortunately, he was missing for 10 days, and he was recovered. So we did not get him back alive,” she said.

That was a big turning point for Collier. She said search and rescue was something she just did somewhat as a serious hobby, but now it is almost a lifestyle.

Shrin said the program encompasses Animal-Assisted Intervention for the 21 ^st Century. It’s offered in tandem with Law Enforcement Dogs for the 21 ^st Century. Anthony founded the programs and is the program director. Collier is an instructor and curriculum developer.

They want high school and college-age students involved to go back into their communities and created the K9 Youth Handlers Program. They will understand their community’s culture better. And they are more likely to avoid being tone deaf like a the time Collier and her team were part of a search and watched as another team was showing excitement over finding a mass grave on a young Black professional’s property.

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