posted Oct 14, 2011 7:20 PM by Jared Leggett
DUNEDIN, Fla. - This is a story about a woman named Erica Bowles, her dog "Rue," and the condominium complex they almost moved into.
"We were going to be given the key on Saturday," said Bowles.
Bowles is no ordinary woman. She's training as an EMT and Firefighter because she enjoys public service.
"Being appreciated. Being able to provide a service. Being able to give back to one's community," Bowles explained.
Her Czech Shepherd is no ordinary dog. She's a K-9 member of Manatee County Search and Rescue. The small, non-profit team has joined big missing-persons searches from Jessica Lunsford to Caylee Anthony. Their team runs on volunteers and donations.
"She's by my side. She's my partner. She's everywhere with me," she said.
Bowles planned to move into a Dunedin condo complex called Nine Fifty Broadway -- but that's where the story gets tricky.
"They said that you are not approved by the condo association,” explained Bowles. "It was heartbreaking to find out the reason they didn't want Rue was she's over 25 pounds, and in their mind they did not see her as being a true service dog."
The letter Bowles was forwarded about the Condo Association's decision reads like this: "...the board has denied your application due to the weight of the dog." It goes on to say her dog "is a service animal for Manatee County, not for the actual tenant." Her Search and Rescue group says the letter also reads trouble for groups like theirs.
"The statutes need to be reviewed so there's less of delineation and working dogs are given the same latitudes and privileges as service dogs,” said Larry Leinhauser, Manatee County Search and Rescue Coordinator.
We contacted the attorney for the condo association but they declined to talk to me in person or on the phone. Bowles and her dog "Rue" are already looking for another condo where their story can have a happy ending.
"We're hoping to find something soon. We put some calls in. There are a couple of communities that are a little more understanding," said Bowles.
Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_north_pinellas/dunedin/search-and-rescue-dog%2C-owner-declined-lease-at-condo#ixzz1aoShsV1k |
posted Jun 24, 2011 8:52 PM by Jared Leggett
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updated Jun 26, 2011 2:18 PM by Unknown user
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THE BRADENTON TIMES
MANATEE COUNTY SAR GETS NEW WATERCRAFT
Manatee County Search / Rescue is pleased to inform the public that we have just acquired two (2) 2011 Sea Doo GTi 130 personal watercraft thanks to the wonderful folks at Action Kawasaki Yamaha Sea Doo in Bradenton.
These machines will add yet another great resource to the response capabilities of Manatee County Search / Rescue. As a County wide Search & Rescue agency we know we can be called upon in just about any location within Manatee County. Though we are usually called upon for our Wilderness and Land based expertise, there have been cases for persons overdue from canoe and kayak trips in our vast waterways. With the growing use of the "Greenways & Blueways" programs within the County is is our belief that we need to make sure the resources are available if needed rather than waiting until after an event happens.
After much consideration about what type of units to purchase, the Sea Doo GTi 130 was chosen for several factors. It is one of the first (PWC's) Personal Water Craft with a "true neutral" and a break system. Having the ability to keep the engine running while staying neutral is is of great benefit over older models where you would have to turn off the craft, and fight the currents by constantly restarting and stopping the craft. The breaking feature is of great comfort for a water craft. This feature can stop the craft up to 100 feet shorter than the competition from its top speed of approximately 55mph. Just as important is how quiet these machines are compared to even last years models. Knowing the engine / exhaust is the quietest on the market today ensures the minimal disruption to wildlife in the most remote areas of our Blue Ways.
These craft will have several uses throughout the County. They are smaller and more maneuverable then most boats and require only a few inches of water to operate so they can get into some of the most difficult places where a canoeist or kayak-er may find themselves in distress. At the same time they are powerful enough to operate in the open Gulf on some of the roughest days. Their size and ease of use will allow them to be put into the water in remote areas without boat ramps, which can increase response times. The same day these two unites were purchased, two members of Manatee County Search / Rescue were able to assist a FWC (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) patrol with a call for medical service just off of Anna Maria Island.
Manatee County Search / Rescue is an all-volunteer group of Public Safety professionals that give their free time to further assist the residents and visitors to Manatee County. They operate solely from donations and the personal expense of its members. To learn more about Manatee County Search / Rescue or to Donate go to their website:www.ManateeCountySAR.org |
posted Dec 10, 2010 7:35 AM by Jared Leggett
Last week, Robyn Bresette, a veterinary technician who works in the intensive care unit at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa, spent her free time volunteering as a member of Disaster Animal Response Team (DART). Becoming a DART volunteer is a commitment that Robyn has enjoyed for more than three yeas.  From left to right: Jessica Gomez, CVT (Veterinary Technician SPCA Tampa Bay), Heather Smith (FVS), Robyn Bresette (FVS), Nicole Shearer (FVS) and Melissa Cruz (FVS) after a long day of volunteering with DART. DART volunteers help the organization fulfill their mission of evacuating and providing aid to animals in crisis. Recently, DART has begun to assist local search and rescue teams with K9 units. Last year, Manatee County Search and Rescue found a hidden resource within DART volunteer veterinary technicians. When veterinary technicians join the search and rescue teams in the field and on standby at the Command Post, any injuries or exhaustion that the working dogs may suffer from would be stabilized immediately and reduce the chances of a handler having to use the words “K9 Down.”  FVS donated thousands of dollars worth of medical supplies to DART. Manatee County Search and Rescue called upon DART veterinary technician volunteers to assist with a missing person’s case. As a team leader, Robyn was able to enlist the help of other veterinary technicians including her colleagues at Florida Veterinary Specialists. FVS donated all the medical supplies needed for the K9 units and technicians without prior DART experience were “stat prepped” and sent out into the field with the search teams. |
posted Sep 14, 2010 6:31 PM by Unknown user
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updated Sep 14, 2010 6:38 PM
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PALMETTO-- A K-9 police dog was recently laid off from the Palmetto Police Department. Lt. Scott Tyler said he didn't fit the job description. "He wanted to lick people rather than bite them," Tyler said. Kanin, an 88-pound, 18-month-old German Shepherd, was put up for adoption after he was deemed too nice to be a police dog. Kanin was able to find a similar position, however. He was donated to the Manatee County Search and Rescue group."He's very social," said Sheena Byers, who is a volunteer with the search and rescue group. "He loves people. He's not the patrol dog type."Byers is training Kanin to be a live find dog, which means if someone goes missing, such as an Alzheimer patient or child, Kanin will help in the efforts to try to track them down."He's got a nose and the agility," Byers said. Capt. Larry Leinhauser said Kanin will be a huge asset to the group."They can cover a whole lot of ground, more ground than we can," he said. "Their scent is multiple times stronger than ours are." Kanin will be in training for the next six months or more. |
posted Aug 20, 2010 8:43 AM by Jared Leggett
Posted: April 13, 2010 01:11 PM Updated: April 13, 2010 01:11 PM  |  | |
WINTER SPRINGS - A search and rescue team from Manatee County was a part of the search for Nadia Bloom. Capt. Larry Leinhauser spent the weekend looking for the little girl. He says he was very worried, because if you don't find someone in the first 24 hours there is less than a 1% chance you'll find them alive. He is one of 14 people on Manatee County's renowned team that specializes in search and rescue in very remote, wild areas. They have been involved in searches for people like Jessica Lunsford, Sara Lundy, Susan Fast and many others. Leinhauser says they went into a deeply wooded, swampy area looking for any signs of fresh movement of earth, bushes pushed back and any articles she might have left behind. He says Nadia was believed to have candy with her, so they were looking for candy wrappers or any sign that the little girl had passed thru that area or might still be trapped there. "We basically we were in heavy brush, real thick woods and marsh land and bodies of water…basically, the lakes were being swept by divers from the sheriff's office and other agencies. Police had helicopters up in the air. Amphibious track machines we had everything out there," says Leinhauser. This is a joyful day for this search and rescue team. Leinshauser says she's been missing since Friday. After 3 days dehydration sets in, and if she wasn't getting liquid she couldn't have lasted much longer.
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