next round, though.” Sarah looked out to the lake and back toward base camp.
“Anything else you need?” he asked one more time as Sarah headed to the dog and picked up the pack. He wanted to offer more, to make things easier for her. He watched as she bent down and leashed up Sam.
Sarah just shook her head indicating she didn’t need any further help.
This was Sarah’s deal. Even though Dave was a state trooper, he also thought of himself as a friend. He felt helpless. He couldn’t intervene on a professional or friendly support level. She had to figure this out herself.
So far she had fared well in proving herself and her dogs’ abilities. He could tell she was built with tenacity and resolve and knew she would come through on the prevailing side. Sarah always proved to be very sharp and forward in her position with the county. She had street sense and book smarts. He respected her.
“I think I have everything.” She turned to Sam, “Free,” she commanded. Sam jumped up and went to the end of the leash, heading back toward the water’s edge. “That’ll do,” she told the dog. He stopped in his tracks and looked back at her. “Stubborn,” she commented, “but in a good way.”
She called to Sam and turned to the direction of base camp. Sam got the idea and followed with enthusiasm. Dave watched the pair. It was like they could read each other’s thoughts, he mused. Hopefully I’ll have that mutual bond and understanding with my Bella one day.
Lost in thought, Dave followed Sarah as they made their way back to the search hub. Sarah was quiet. He knew she was contemplating the situation and he didn’t want to prod her with questions. He was curious though how she was going to convince the agency and dive team that they needed to recheck the area—and recheck it with a canine.
Dave knew she would have to be careful how she treaded there, how she presented the information and how she would persuade management to follow up on Sam’s indication. Either the body moved or god forbid, they missed it somehow when they ran side scan sonar and gridded the area. Boy, does she have her work cut out for her.
Chapter 8
Sarah
Arriving back in base camp, Dave headed directly toward the command unit. Sarah split off and started to make her way to her truck with Sam in tow.
“Hey, Sarah,” Dave called to her, “we need to check in and let search management know we made it safely back to base camp. I’m sure they’re waiting for us to debrief as well.”
“Can you check in for me, please? I need to take care of Sam first and give him a thorough going-over,” Sarah replied, continuing in the direction of her truck without waiting for an answer. She wasn’t ready to face the lieutenant and the dive team commander just yet. Sam is my first priority at the moment anyway, she thought, but I also need some time to figure out how to deal with the whole situation.
Sarah reached her truck and set her pack down on the edge of the tailgate. Gunner started to whine, excited that his handler and playmate had returned. “Hey there, Gunner. Did ya miss us?” At least he’s glad to see me, crossed her mind as she thought of the dive team. Sam’s ears pricked up and he listened to the exchange between Sarah and the other dog. Sarah peeked into the crated dog’s confines to check his water. Satisfied he still had plenty, she turned back to Sam. “Okay, boy, your turn.”
She had Sam lay down on the tarmac in the parking lot. He sparingly obliged. Sarah kneeled down beside him. It was standard protocol for a handler to give a complete once over of their canine partner to make sure they were physically fine once completing an assignment.
Starting with his mouth, head and ears, Sarah closely examined the dog. She continued down each leg, inspected each paw, the pads and his nails. She finished with his head and limbs and checked his under-belly and tail. Convinced there were no splinters or thorns stuck in his pads
“Anything else you need?” he asked one more time as Sarah headed to the dog and picked up the pack. He wanted to offer more, to make things easier for her. He watched as she bent down and leashed up Sam.
Sarah just shook her head indicating she didn’t need any further help.
This was Sarah’s deal. Even though Dave was a state trooper, he also thought of himself as a friend. He felt helpless. He couldn’t intervene on a professional or friendly support level. She had to figure this out herself.
So far she had fared well in proving herself and her dogs’ abilities. He could tell she was built with tenacity and resolve and knew she would come through on the prevailing side. Sarah always proved to be very sharp and forward in her position with the county. She had street sense and book smarts. He respected her.
“I think I have everything.” She turned to Sam, “Free,” she commanded. Sam jumped up and went to the end of the leash, heading back toward the water’s edge. “That’ll do,” she told the dog. He stopped in his tracks and looked back at her. “Stubborn,” she commented, “but in a good way.”
She called to Sam and turned to the direction of base camp. Sam got the idea and followed with enthusiasm. Dave watched the pair. It was like they could read each other’s thoughts, he mused. Hopefully I’ll have that mutual bond and understanding with my Bella one day.
Lost in thought, Dave followed Sarah as they made their way back to the search hub. Sarah was quiet. He knew she was contemplating the situation and he didn’t want to prod her with questions. He was curious though how she was going to convince the agency and dive team that they needed to recheck the area—and recheck it with a canine.
Dave knew she would have to be careful how she treaded there, how she presented the information and how she would persuade management to follow up on Sam’s indication. Either the body moved or god forbid, they missed it somehow when they ran side scan sonar and gridded the area. Boy, does she have her work cut out for her.
Chapter 8
Sarah
Arriving back in base camp, Dave headed directly toward the command unit. Sarah split off and started to make her way to her truck with Sam in tow.
“Hey, Sarah,” Dave called to her, “we need to check in and let search management know we made it safely back to base camp. I’m sure they’re waiting for us to debrief as well.”
“Can you check in for me, please? I need to take care of Sam first and give him a thorough going-over,” Sarah replied, continuing in the direction of her truck without waiting for an answer. She wasn’t ready to face the lieutenant and the dive team commander just yet. Sam is my first priority at the moment anyway, she thought, but I also need some time to figure out how to deal with the whole situation.
Sarah reached her truck and set her pack down on the edge of the tailgate. Gunner started to whine, excited that his handler and playmate had returned. “Hey there, Gunner. Did ya miss us?” At least he’s glad to see me, crossed her mind as she thought of the dive team. Sam’s ears pricked up and he listened to the exchange between Sarah and the other dog. Sarah peeked into the crated dog’s confines to check his water. Satisfied he still had plenty, she turned back to Sam. “Okay, boy, your turn.”
She had Sam lay down on the tarmac in the parking lot. He sparingly obliged. Sarah kneeled down beside him. It was standard protocol for a handler to give a complete once over of their canine partner to make sure they were physically fine once completing an assignment.
Starting with his mouth, head and ears, Sarah closely examined the dog. She continued down each leg, inspected each paw, the pads and his nails. She finished with his head and limbs and checked his under-belly and tail. Convinced there were no splinters or thorns stuck in his pads
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