Several members of the Tyrone Area FFA got “lost” in the woods last month, but don’t worry, they had some very qualified four-legged friends diligently looking for them.
The Tyrone students collaborated with Heaven Scent Search and Rescue to conduct training for rescue bloodhounds from several states.
Tyrone residents Dianne and Mike Thees founded this all-volunteer group in 2007. The Thees are handlers for their two Bloodhounds, Noah and Luke.
Their gentle giants are trained to track lost children, Alzheimer patients, lost hikers, and hunters, as well as suspects being sought by law enforcement.
Dogs from Heaven Scent Search and Rescue assist police, fire departments, and other emergency responders in Blair, Huntingdon, Clearfield, Centre, Jefferson, Franklin, Fulton, Adams, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties.
To keep their skills sharp, they need practice.
The Thees organize an annual training for their group members, which attracts dogs and handlers from six different states to their annual training.
The Tyrone Area FFA volunteered to help by simulating hot and cold trails for the dogs. Hot trails are those walked the same day, while cold trails are several days old.
Members of the FFA walked trails two days before the training to establish the cold trails, while another group of students walked paths throughout Tyrone Borough on Saturday morning to simulate hot trails.
Other students worked in small groups, simulating missing persons by walking the designated trails and waiting at specified final locations.
“My experience was great. As a volunteer firefighter, I frequently work with search dogs, and understanding their operation is beneficial for the community,” sophomore Wyatt Walls said.
Heaven Scent founder Dianne Thees praised the FFA students for their help.
“The Tyrone Area FFA members are shining stars of the future,” Thees said. “Whatever task was asked of them, whether being a lost person or walking behind the K9 handlers helping to keep the dog safe from hazards, each was eager and willing to not only perform the assignment but do it with a desire to go above and beyond what was expected.”
Training occurred in several locations, near the Neptune Fire Company and the First English Lutheran Church in Tyrone on Saturday, and Sunday’s activities took place in the woods near Pinecroft.
“It was awesome because I got to work with really nice people. I loved waiting for the bloodhounds to come find me, and their success brought me joy,” freshman FFA member Jason Brownson said.
According to Thees, the training was important to sharpen the dogs’ abilities to recognize scents associated with missing persons.
“Without the FFA, our annual training event would not be as successful. Thank you for giving up your weekend to volunteer,” Thees said.
