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The concept of Dogs with a Mission has always been to get solid German Shepherd & Labrador working dogs into the working community & provide wonderful family companions. Our focus centers around scent detection, with a strong emphasis in disaster search & rescue and explosive detection. This is a working philosophy that goes back for many, many years on a personal level. In order to get a better understanding of what this philosophy is all about, a bit of history would help. Since a child I have had an affinity with animals.... "a way" is what my family has called it... Anything that breathed & had eyes, had a home with me. In addition to my love of animals, I am a survivalist, naturalist & disaster oriented individual by nature. Not sure quite the meaning of what all that entails, since I'm by and large a pacifist with an "attitude" when roused I suppose. A rare, but wicked pen. |
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~Articles~ Reprinted from the October 1989 issue of the Weimaraner Magazine |
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A decade ago I started in canine search and rescue. As one would expect, I gravitated towards the disaster side of things... When Texas, then under Governor George Bush, started it's first state, disaster response team TX-TF1, I joined. Later we went on to become a federal FEMA team, and subsequently a WMD (weapons of mass destruction) response team on top of that. Within this time frame, I've responded to a number of local, state & national searches, though not all of them have been disaster. Some child abductions, missing persons and several drowning / water searches. But my specialty was disaster..... something I've always felt very strongly about.... long before the 911 meltdown. |
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Prior to 911, many of us knew something of it's magnitude was coming down the pipes. It was not an "if", but "when" attitude.... so much for Bush "scaring" the public during his campaign speeches. This is an attitude that I and many still hold for now & the future. Unfortunately, or however you wish to look at it, 911 was at least a deployable disaster. We may not be so lucky next on the next go around. Any member of a FEMA Task Force is required to have an extensive amount of additional training.... which I have always enjoyed. The weapons of mass destruction training was a gut-wrenching, awakening to the reality however. So, in addition to what I already knew, plus my canine & heavy rescue training, I've developed a good understanding of disaster work. (Just this awareness alone should be enough for most of you readers to understand why all of my best working dogs stay in the disaster oriented fields.... "best" is a term with different meanings to different people. |
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Then 911 hit, and turned our world upside down. Texas
responded to NYC, ground zero, along with a number of other task
forces. After the dust cleared, we realized not only how
vulnerable we were as a country, but how difficult it became to find
solid working dogs.
Since then, it continues to be difficult in finding qualified dogs for these highly specialized areas. Many organizations are turning overseas. There is more emphasis being placed on the sporting breeds for their single purpose canines. That too is unfortunate
for the German Shepherd breed, which used to dominate the working
arena.... So that's where my niche has always been, albeit a small
one. That is of course in addition to the many wonderful
family companions that have gone out into homes along the way. I retired my FEMA disaster dog Cholo, who passed away in a few years ago. His Memorial is back up on my site. Thank you Lulu, A&M's TX-TF1, Dr. Otto with Pennsylvania State University & everyone else for remembering our fallen canines & those who've been left behind. It has personally meant a great deal to me and everyone else. I've noted the 911 Heros book on my home page. A beautiful tribute to the many dogs who worked this deployment. Cholo has his page in there too.
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Trauma, Proximity, and Developmental Psychopathology: The Effects of War and Terrorism on Children |
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My focus is now on the
area of explosive detection work, though my breeding program has not
changed .....
We are living in troubling times; no one needs me to tell them this. As a struggling Christian, I see it from this vantage point. Most religious belief systems show a similar chain of events. Do the best that you can with the help & grace of God... and pray for peace in all that you do.... both the joy and pain.... I know, I know..... easier said, - Joanne |
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Send mail to jmreitz@earthlink.net with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2005-2006 - DWAM USA - Texas Breeder of Working & Companion German Shepherd & Labrador Retriever Puppies Kaufman, Texas Last modified: 05/14/08 |
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it still remains high-end scent detection. In
closing, my intent was an overview and I hope that I was able to
accomplish that. When I get my website organized, perhaps I
can offer what insight & knowledge I have; however limited the scope
may be. DWAM USA was never created to just breed dogs.... it's
always been about a Mission. As
most people who know me,
I
am always available,
so email me if you
have any questions or need help with something.