Susan Bulanda > Quotes

“What qualities are essentials for this type of dog? It takes focus, endurance, an ability to scent discriminate, and, some would say excessive drive. For me, Black Labs of working/field trail lines have proven to be very capable in this role. However, I know that many breeds of dogs would work just as well. It takes a dog that is tireless, with a boundless desire to please. The dog must be tough enough for the weather and terrain and just dumb enough to want to do this more than anything else in the world. – Deb Tirmenstein”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“The victim was last seen in the spillway from Lake Charleston into the Embarras River, which is in Coles County, Illinois. Four wrestling team members decided to slide down the spillway during a flood. Two drowned. One body washed out of the spillway the following day.”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“When I initially heard a description of the search area and the scenario, I was certain this would be a wasted effort. I suspected there was very little we could do, given the huge size of the search area, rough terrain, terrible weather, age of the track (around 52 hours old), and the lack of resources. Clearly, I was wrong. I underestimated the ability of a trained SAR dog. – Deb Tirmenstein”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“When searching for a victim that is out of sight, such as under rubble, water, or in darkness, the handler wants an indication from the dog that is unmistakable, or “bombproof.” However, occasionally you’ll be on a search where even the best trained dog will do the bombproof alert. This is where close observation of your dog’s body language can help you solve the problem. – Marcia Koenig”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“What are your feelings about the mission?
“I was elated because this was Gus’ first live find and I feel the victim would have died if we didn’t find him. All of our training paid off. I’d always have believed that I’d be so proud because we (Gus and I) made the find and saved a life. What happened was just the opposite. I was humbled because I realized that we were just a tool. If it hadn’t been for the work of all of the other people on the search, we wouldn’t have been successful. If it hadn’t been for the deputy’s ongoing investigation and canvassing the neighborhood, they wouldn’t have found the neighbor who pointed us in the direction where the victim was found. I realized on that search that we, as the dog/handler team, don’t “walk on water,” everyone is important. A search is a team effort by everyone involved in the search. – David Hancock”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“One good, qualified dog team is equal to about thirty searchers on foot.”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready!: Training the Search and Rescue Dog

“If you’re not sure if the dog has something or not, don’t ask it if it has anything. You may talk the dog into an alert. Let the dog make up its own mind.

Leave the area of greatest interest, search other areas or take a break, then bring the dog back in. Try to approach from another direction. Observe what your dog does without cueing from you; sometimes the dog will have no further interest in the area. – Marcia Koenig”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions

“When my dog picked up scent he immediately left the main wash and took off up one of the 40’ ravine walls to head cross country. He had been working just ahead of us as we went northerly up the wash. He was not ranging any distance at all before he got scent. When my partner and I followed him and got to the top of the ridge, my dog was already at the bottom of the ravine and starting to climb up the next ridge. He paused to look back and see we were coming and then disappeared out of sight over the next ridge as we were working our way down. He repeated his behavior as we negotiated at least three ravines and ridges in this fashion. When he came again to the main wash he waited only long enough to make eye contact again before entering the narrow slot canyon where the subject was found.” – Susan Williams”
― Susan Bulanda, Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions