Three year-old Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) certified Joss stands at the top of Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) fierce and determined. She害羞草研究所檚 been trained to locate someone buried under the snow. Though the gravity of her work can害羞草研究所檛 be overstated, to her, work is just another walk in the park.
害羞草研究所淔or her it害羞草研究所檚 all a game. Everything is fun,害羞草研究所� says Revelstoke Search and Rescue Volunteer Jeni Gibbs riding the chairlift with Joss at RMR. 害羞草研究所淲hen I say do you want to go to work, that害羞草研究所檚 like, do you want to go have a really good time. Not really like most people害羞草研究所檚 association with their job.害羞草研究所�
Gibbs is Joss害羞草研究所� handler. She害羞草研究所檚 trained Joss from birth and says they have an almost telepathic connection.
Today, Gibbs has set up an exercise that害羞草研究所檚 both practice and fun for Joss. Hidden in the snow is a friendly volunteer. And Joss is going to try and find her.
Gibbs gives Joss the codeword, letting her know that it害羞草研究所檚 time to do her job.
She害羞草研究所檚 poised as she performs the rescue drill, scanning the terrain with a steadfast determination and ease before alerting her handler that she害羞草研究所檚 done her part.
It takes Joss less than 30 seconds to find her volunteer buried in the snow on the Southside of Mt. Mackenzie at RMR, and Gibbs rewards her with a game of tug of war. It害羞草研究所檚 all part of the game.
Though it害羞草研究所檚 all fun for Joss, it takes years of relationship building and work to get dogs to demonstrate the kinds of behaviours necessary to get validated and certified as an avalanche rescue dog and perform the way Joss does.
But Gibbs is humble. She calls it, 害羞草研究所渆asy.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 pretty easy, it害羞草研究所檚 like she knows what I害羞草研究所檓 thinking, and I know what she害羞草研究所檚 thinking, and we can kind of read each other,害羞草研究所� says Gibbs. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like this is where mom is gonna let me go and run around, or this is where I害羞草研究所檓 gonna害羞草研究所� have to go back to the truck. When I say something she just knows what it means because, I taught her.害羞草研究所�
Because of all the time they害羞草研究所檝e spent together training, Gibbs and Joss have a special bond.
Gibbs calls Joss her best friend, and says she is beyond excited that she gets to spend her work days working with her dog.
害羞草研究所淭o have your best friend with you when you go to work, it害羞草研究所檚 pretty awesome,害羞草研究所� says Gibbs.
According to CARDA, one avalanche rescue dog can search hectare of avalanche terrain in 30 minutes.
They say it would take human beings working in a group about four hours to do the same.
Founded in 1978, CARDA is dedicated to saving the lives of those caught in avalanches.
To report a typo, email:
jake.sherman@revelstokereview.com.
jake.sherman@revelstokereview.com
Like us on and follow us on .
