Trainer, 4 rescue dogs honored

State veterinary group lauds work of the Indiana Task Force One members at
World Trade Center site.

By: R. Joseph Gelarden, Indianapolis Star

February 03, 2002

Anne Trout brushed a tear from her eye Saturday when the Indiana Veterinary
Medical Association honored her and four Hoosier search and rescue dogs for
their valiant work seeking victims in the World Trade Center rubble.

But Kaiser, a playful German shepherd, wasn't interested in the standing
ovation from 1,000 animal experts cheering his heroism.

Instead, the bright eyes of the rescue canine seemed fixed on the slice of
moist cheesecake, topped with a bright red strawberry, that rested on a
nearby plate. (His handler, Tony Zintsmaster, offered Kaiser a carrot stick,
which the dog promptly spit out.)

Mary Schmidt, a Pendleton area veterinarian who chairs the animal welfare
committee for the state group, called this year's awards to the members of
Indiana Task Force One "a no-brainer."

Trout, the manager of research at Methodist Hospital's Medical Research
Institute and the team's training director, was honored for her efforts to
promote animal welfare. Kaiser, Freddy, Polly and Scout were lauded as
heroes -- animals that displayed special courage.

Although she was proud of the award, Trout used the occasion to urge the
public to help find better places to train the dogs.

Currently the teams, whose dogs are certified by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, train at two gravel pits.

Trout said she wants to work her teams at and around destroyed buildings and
structures, similar to what they will face at a disaster scene.

"The ruins of Market Square Arena was a perfect spot," Trout said. "But the
city refused to let us train there. They said it was too dangerous.

"Think about it for a moment. The ruins of Market Square Arena were too
dangerous for us, then FEMA sent us to Ground Zero to paw through the
smoking and burning ruins of the World Trade Center for nine days."

The Hoosier rescue dog teams didn't find any survivors, Trout said.

"But we found some remains of the victims, and I hope that helped bring some
relief to their families."

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Tue, 5 Feb 2002 17:44:06 (EST)
 


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