National Search Dog Pearl Named ASPCA 2010 "Dog of the Year"

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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the first humane organization established in North America, recently named Pearl, a beautiful Labrador Retriever and search dog with California Task Force 2, the ASPCA 2010 "Dog of the Year." Pearl will be honored with her handler, Captain Ron Horetski of the Los Angeles Fire Department, in New York on November 11th, 2010.

Founded by Henry Bergh in 1866, the ASPCA believes that animals deserve respect from humans and must be protected under law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with programs that extend their anti-cruelty mission across the United States. This corporation was the first humane organization to be granted legal authority to investigate and make arrests for crimes against animals.

Pearl was found and rescued by the National Search Dog Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1996. Based in Ojai, California, the Search Dog Foundation's mission is to strengthen America's disaster response by recruiting rescued dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find endangered persons buried alive beneath the rubble of disasters. At absolutely no cost to fire departments, the Search Dog Foundation offers professionally trained canines and a continuous training program, along with ensured lifetime care for every canine in the program.

Currently, there is a total of 70 SDF trained Search Teams located in California, New York, Oklahoma, Florida and Utah. These life-saving heroes can be shared regionally and nationally due to Mutual Aid Agreements between counties, cities and states.

Allyn Lee, the author of "A New Job for Pearl" and former Oakland Zoo guide, was invited by Connie Forslind to share her knowledge and interest in animals with the second grade students of her class at Rancho Romero School in Alamo, California. When the tragic event of the earthquake that hit Haiti occurred, Allyn shared with Forslind's students the news about the canine search and rescue dogs and their handlers working to locate and rescue survivors under the debris. She eventually discovered the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation along with the teams that make up the California Task Force 2.  Lee was amazed with these heroic animals and decided that the story of these amazing dogs needed to be told and shared throughout the nation.

Lee and Forslind asked students if they would like to help others by creating artwork to be incorporated into the book "A New Job for Pearl." The students agreed and illustrated the true story of the homeless, rescued search dog of the National Search Dog Foundation, Pearl, her handler, Captain Horetski, and their journey to Haiti with the California Task Force 2 team. Pearl assisted other highly-trained dogs with locating survivors of the devastating earthquake that otherwise, could not have been found by humans.

With the story and illustrations ready, the next step was accomplished with the help of Christine Reder, who used her computer skills in the desktop publishing of the book. Several agents from People & Properties Sotheby's International Realty donated printing costs enabling Lee and the students to donate 100% of proceeds to the National Search Dog Foundation. Lydia Leveriza of Diablo Printing and Copying did an amazing job of printing "A New Job for Pearl" and it is now available to be purchased either online at www.anewjobforpearl.org/ or by contacting Allyn Lee at 925-588-8180.

This incredible book project has raised $7,200 of the $10,000 needed to sponsor the search training of a new rescued dog. By purchasing "A New Job for Pearl," not only will you encourage the spread of awareness about the National Search Dog Foundation's wonderful work, but you can help in the effort to train yet another rescued dog who will save lives around the world.

To learn more about the National Search Dog Foundation and "A New Job for Pearl," please visit www.anewjobforpearl.org/.

Photo: Captain Ron Horetski and Pearl flew from Los Angeles, California to share a day with the students at Rancho Romero School who helped with the creation of "A New Job for Pearl."



Author:Renee Marquart - Fire Department Network News