Mounted search and rescue

[Una Smith <msar@ibiblio.org>]

MSAR-Riders,

Re our recent discussion about SAR in Georgia USA, I searched the web and
e-mailed Bill Hilsman, an officer with the most promising SAR dog unit: 

>>Your SAR team website http://www.georgiasearchandrescue.com/ seems to be 
>>the only one in Georgia that mentions GEMA licensing. Questions have come 
>>up on MSAR-Riders (for horseback SAR) about licenses required in Georgia. 
>>Would you mind joining us and telling us more about it? 

Bill forwarded my e-mail to his teammates and Frank Hancock replied:

>Una, GEMA requires that K9 handlers have a license.  The requirements
>include a search and rescue technician course( that must be attended
>in person), several FEMA independent study courses(IS100, 200, 500,
>and 700 I think), a Red Cross first aid course including CPR and a
>personal certification of the dogs qualifications.  Our team members
>also certify to the NASAR search and rescue technician II level but
>that is not required by GEMA.  In addition to this we work towards
>national canine certifications with NASAR and others.  We also have
>internal standards that our handlers and dogs must meet before being
>mission ready. There is a lot at stake in some of these searches and
>in order to keep our relations with law enforcement we only bring
>dogs that can do the work to searches. We also don't hesitate to
>bring in other qualified dogs from other teams if the search gets
>beyond our ability. 
>
>We all like to bragg about our dogs but we work hard to keep it
>between ourselves.  My wife and I have horses but there are not many
>horse searches that take place around here. I hope this helps to
>answer some of your questions and if you have others let me know.
>Thanks Frank Hancock

Jeff Ezell has recommended that I call GEMA;  I hope someone on this
list who is in Georgia will pick up the ball and do that, and report
back to us.

        Una Smith
        New Mexico