22 April 2008
NZ Land SAR Dogs approves constitution and applies for Affiliation
At a meeting held via conference call on 18 April 2008, a constitution was approved.
The meeting also appointed an interim committee to stand until such time as a committee is elected at an AGM.
The committee consists of:
Andrew Pealing (Chair)
Kim Charles (Secretary)
Iain Watson (Treasurer)
Chris Martin
Dave McKinley
The committee can be reached via emails sent to committee@nzlsar-dogs.org.nz - a copy of emails sent to that address will sent to each member of the committee.
It is the intention for NZ Land SAR Dogs to become Incorporated. As such, there is a requirement for formal memberships and a 'database' of members. The meeting decided to set annual subscriptions to $5.00, and membership applications will be sent out in due course. This will allow a membership to be established prior to the inaugural AGM.
First find for Tess
Late on Saturday evening of the Lake Kaniere training weekend (24th Feb 07), a Policeman disturbed our socialising, requesting assistance at a search near Methven for a missing competitor in a multisport race.
Three operational dog teams and four other handlers quickly packed up and headed for Methven, where they were deployed onto the hill on a very well run search by 6:00am. Approximately 14:30 on the Sunday, Ron Ealam's dog barked lower down in the gulley he was searching, and upon rounding a bend, Ron was able to confirm his dog had located the missing person.
The best news was that the now found competitor was uninjured, in good spirits and able to make their way unassisted to a clearing for evacuation by helicoptor.
The other teams had all played their part of course, searching other areas.
New Chair & Deputy Chair
The New Zealand Land SAR Search Dog sub-committee met on 11th Nov 2006.
At the meeting Clair Robertson stood down as Chair.
Andrew Pealing is taking over as Chair, and Kim Charles is taking over the role
of Deputy Chair from Andrew.
Important Points from Nov 2006 Sub-Committee Meeting
Operational Deployment
There have been some reports of non-operational dogs being used on searches.
This is in breach of the National agreement between NZLSAR and the Police.
The Sub-Committee wish to re-emphasise that non-operational dogs (that is dogs
which have not passed a NZLSAR operational assessment within the past 14 months)
are not to be taken on live operations.
The Sub-Committee have resolved that handlers who do use a non-operational dog on a search
will no longer be associated with NZLSAR Search Dogs, and will thus not be
eligible to attend training and assessment weekends
Should a handler be asked by their local SAR Advisors and/or Police to take their
non-operational dog on a search, they should politely decline, explaining the
situation, and refering the Advisor or Officer to the Chair of the Sub-committe
if necessary.