You might not want an unlicensed driver behind the wheel, but nobody is complaining about the assistance offered by six local search dogs, even if the helpful canines haven’t been officially certified. The dogs were most recently out canvassing the
You might not want an unlicensed driver behind the wheel, but nobody is complaining about the assistance offered by six local search dogs, even if the helpful canines haven’t been officially certified.
The dogs were most recently out canvassing the rocky and hilly areas above and behind Anini Beach after a 68-year-old Kansas woman disappeared more than two weeks ago. Ione Beden was never found and authorities now suspect she drowned.
The six dogs — Divot, a golden retriever, Bunker, a black labrador, two yellow labradors named Teddy and Ni, and two Rottweilers answering to Ipo and Pili — are the original canine members of the Kaua’i-based Hawai’i Search Dog Association.
The HSDA is also comprised of six initial human members — Robin and Sam Pratt, Azi and Jim Turturici and Ricko and Werner Taniguchi.
The sextet of dog owners are hoping to have their animals certified in late March, when trainers Laura and Wayne Rathe of Redding, Calif., return for their third session with the six search pooches.
Laura Rathe first got involved with training the local animals while visiting her sister, Leslie Maka, of Princeville.
According to Sam Pratt, HSDA is a “purely volunteer organization, with its dogs trained to assist in the search for missing persons. Members and their dogs will be available upon request of law enforcement officials.”
Kaua’i County Police chief George Freitas said that although the dogs would be primarily used on Kaua’i, he hoped they could be utilized by other islands, too.
“They are the first such dogs in Hawai’i,” Freitas noted.
HSDA dogs are socialized and trained in obedience. They have been trained not just to locate the deceased or folks who are in hiding, but can also track down fleeing fugitives.
Pratt said his training tasks have narrowed down.
“I mostly have been hiding,” Pratt said.
Pratt noted that many different canine breeds can be trained as search dogs.
He said Divot, the golden retriever, was “the dingiest’ of the dogs but that the dog’s training continues.
He added that while hiding, it took him a while to get used to being found by the Rottweilers, a notably aggressive breed. But Pratt said Ipo and Pili were talented, friendly animals who were “good at the game.”
The HSDA has used Grove Farm, the Princeville Ranch and county land to train the dogs in varying environments.
Kaua’i needs the search dogs, according to Freitas and the HSDA members.
There are 30 miles of trails under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Forestry and Wildlife Division, in addition to many other trails and roads that criss cross private land. Hikers get lost missing on Kaua’i frequently. In 1998 and 1999, county fire and rescue workers responded to more than 75 land rescues.
The HSDA has applied for non-profit status.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
