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Rescue Dogs: Crime and Rescue Canines in the Canadian Rockies
These stories of crime and rescue, by retired park warden and dog trainer Dale Portman, highlight the vital role dogs play in saving lives, upholding the law and recovering bodies. Portman describes the escapades of Canadian Rockies park warden Alfie Burstrom and his canine partner, Ginger―the first certified avalanche search team in North America―as well as his own adventures tracking down criminals and missing persons with his German shepherd, Sam. Reading these stories of working dogs will give you a new appreciation of the important roles they play and how they really are our silent heroes.
125 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2003
11 people want to read
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June 7, 2015
Partners help at the drop of a hat. The skills required are stringent. I was shocked our country was reluctant to trust dogs in search and rescue. How precariously the ‘Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association’ hinged on the first pair, Alfie & Ginger, was surprising. Dale Portman’s examples, demonstrating time and again when locating and rescuing wouldn’t have been possible without these dogs, are irrefutable. We might misstep, occasionally nature turns dangerous in seconds. When help is needed, reasons don’t matter. These stories feature the first Alberta dog and handler in the 1960s and more recent ones. They are compelling and memorable.
I still lament the girl who fell off of a suspension bridge. It is the worst thing to happen to a family. I wish Dale had provided closure for readers after such a disturbing account; by saying something about her parents after she was retrieved, or whether the incident resulted in changes to the safety of the structure. The stories are vividly told because Dale was involved, or well-versed in them but except in three cases; they start and end with the facts. A personal sensibility could have been infused into them. A peculiar omission is his wife. Only the write-up at the end tells us she was a park warden too.
I’m a little perplexed about story selection. In most of them, a body is retrieved. Weren’t there many more completely happy endings? Were these ones chosen because they connected with Dale, or the circumstances were more staggering? I would prefer wholly uplifting outcomes. Nonetheless, “Rescue Dogs, Crime And Rescue Canines In The Canadian Rockies” is excellent. It makes an impact on how we think about emergencies; especially law enforcement’s determination to handle them better. Knowing the RCMP and CARDA exist, reassures Canadians that we are protected.
I still lament the girl who fell off of a suspension bridge. It is the worst thing to happen to a family. I wish Dale had provided closure for readers after such a disturbing account; by saying something about her parents after she was retrieved, or whether the incident resulted in changes to the safety of the structure. The stories are vividly told because Dale was involved, or well-versed in them but except in three cases; they start and end with the facts. A personal sensibility could have been infused into them. A peculiar omission is his wife. Only the write-up at the end tells us she was a park warden too.
I’m a little perplexed about story selection. In most of them, a body is retrieved. Weren’t there many more completely happy endings? Were these ones chosen because they connected with Dale, or the circumstances were more staggering? I would prefer wholly uplifting outcomes. Nonetheless, “Rescue Dogs, Crime And Rescue Canines In The Canadian Rockies” is excellent. It makes an impact on how we think about emergencies; especially law enforcement’s determination to handle them better. Knowing the RCMP and CARDA exist, reassures Canadians that we are protected.
Displaying 1 of 1 review