Maui Jim Horse Trials

Tentative Agenda and Spectator Information

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www.illwissardogs.org

ILLINOIS WISCONSIN SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG ORGANIZATION

Photo by Jen Bidner
Reggie, the newest Illinois Wisconsin Search dog, tries his blanket on for size

In response to the brave work done by search and rescue dogs following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the organizing committee of the Maui Jim Horse Trials in Wayne, Illinois in 2002 chose to benefit a local canine search and rescue dog club and donated a percentage of each horse trials entry along with a percentage of all sponsorship money raised to the Illinois Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs Organization in Woodstock, Illinois. This proved to be such worthy and popular cause that the Horse Trials has continued to designate this organization as beneficiary of funds and will again do so in 2009.

The Illinois Wisconsin Organization, which was formed in 1985 as an Illinois Not For Profit Corporation, came highly recommended by national SAR personnel. They are on 24 hour call with both the McHenry County Sheriffs Police and Scott Air Force Base. The Illinois Wisconsin handlers and their dogs were also on call during the dark days of 2002 to travel to New York to work at the Trade Center site.

Typically, handlers of these highly trained and specialized canines assist with searches and disasters, and they pay most of their own expenses in these efforts. Local clubs help out as best they can, but their resources are limited. Initially, the dog and handler teams are trained and certified in man trailing, and they subsequently go on to receive advanced cross-training in gun powder and article search, underwater body detection, and cadaver search. Their handlers also learn skills in CPR, first aid, radio communications, and map and compass use.

Demonstrations of canine search and rescue skills are planned to take place at the Maui Jim Horse Trials in conjunction with the final phase of the Horse Trials and the Illinois Special Olympics Equestrian competition, all of which will run at Lamplight Equestrian Center on Sunday alongside Show Jumping.