SAR dog gains experience

Training to be a SAR volunteer for the Camp Sherman Hasty Team is a big commitment. You need to be comfortable with the outdoors and possess the time and willingness to serve the public.

For Jacobus Von Logan, or just plain "Jake," it's been second nature.

Jake, a 6-year-old Dutch/German shepherd mix has been part of the Camp Sherman Hasty SAR team for four years. His owner and handler, Mark Hilgart of Sisters, is also a team member.

Jake was trained as a search and rescue dog, and was ready for the team by the time he was 2 years old.

Jake completed foundation obedience classes at advanced levels before he could begin SAR training.

Jake was trained to be a trailing search and rescue dog. A trailing dog works on leash and follows the scent path of the subject, not the track.

"Jake and I have been called in on four search and rescues over the last few years," recalls Hilgart.

"Two years ago there was a search and rescue over in John Day Canyon. Two hikers were lost. First they searched for them by plane and had people looking on foot for hours, but weren't successful. Then at 9 p.m. they called in our SAR team. We started with a briefing about the situation and Jake got to sniff the scent of the hikers from something that belonged to them. I use a sterile pad on clothing or shoes of the missing person, then give Jake the scent, I find it works the best. An hour or so later Jake had picked up on their scent and we called in on our radio to give the deputy our position. Then the planes came in and spotted the two missing men."

Hilgart and Jake have been trained for high mountain rescue in rough terrain. But they never track alone.

"There are several key people with us on each search and rescue mission. We have about 30 volunteers who go through 140 hours of training on our Camp Sherman Hasty Team. It could be someone with advanced medical training like an EMT or a marathoner runner that helps us track," said Hilgart. "Since I am Jake's handler, I need to focus on him because he shows me what to do and I don't want to break his concentration. Another volunteer will be using the radio to call in and so on."

Jake wears a tracking harness and has several different kinds of leads depending on the situation.

"On the harness is a pack in which I carry essential tools that can be very useful. I have a search and rescue whistle, a GPS for giving a position, and a compass. I also have bright polka-dot tape for marking areas and a headlamp for nighttime use. Jake really loves his important role as a SAR dog," says Hilgart.

Jefferson County Deputy Dave Blann has been coordinator of the Camp Sherman Hasty Team for the last 18 years.

"The whole team is made up of people from all walks of life. They each bring their own talents to the team and let us utilize that talent," says Blann.

"Jake is an excellent tool to have in your tool box and his handler Mark Hilgart has put forth thousands of hours working with him. It's amazing what those two have done for our SAR team."

Hilgart and his wife have adopted another Dutch/German shepherd named Zoe. She is a year old.

"She has already been through all her obedience training and will be following in Jakes footsteps as a search and rescue dog in the near future," says Hilgart. "Jake will be retiring in another two years."

Hilgart will begin training Zoe as a trailing search and rescue dog in about a month.

"Even as a puppy I would roll the ball instead of throwing it so Zoe would keep her nose to the ground. We play hide and seek for her to practice tracking," says Hilgart. "Jake is her mentor, she learns quickly by watching him."

Hilgart and his wife live in Sisters at their Lucky Star Ranch with their miniature horses, miniature donkeys, and Jake and Zoe.

The Camp Sherman Hasty Team is always looking for more volunteers. It is specialized training that takes several months. To find out more about becoming a volunteer visit their website at www.campshermanhastyteam.com.