Spicewood Elementary children learn about search and rescue dogs

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

A group of Spicewood Elementary School students met Ruger, one of the ten Texas Parks & Wildlife Department search and rescue dogs, in action Tuesday, Oct. 21. An early morning chill permeated the air and fog hovered over the grass.

“This is my first presentation to kids this age,” said Christy Vales, K-9 game warden with TPWD. She said she is used to getting dirty and is not bothered at all by dog hair in her truck.

The pre-kindergartners, kindergartners, first and second-graders could hardly contain their excitement, and many were not shy about asking questions and telling the game wardens about their dogs at home.

Vales and Keith Gerth, assistant chief game warden, were at the school not only to show off Ruger’s search and rescue abilities, but to teach kids what to do if they get lost in the woods.

She told students about the “call out”: “You know what do if you hear someone call out, ‘I’m with Texas Parks & Wildlife, I have a dog coming to look for you, he won’t bite, make some noise so we can hear you.’”

For search and rescue, the agency often uses Labrador retrievers and Lab mixes, like Ruger, because of their ideal temperament. They are less likely to bite a person than other breeds, but there’s another reason for their popularity.

“These dogs like to work, they’re ready to work: we often use Labs because their energy and drive is through the roof,” Vales said.

Ruger is not just Vales’ hard-working partner, he’s her camping buddy. “He loves it, but I have to let him go find someone to keep him happy,” she said with a smile.

Vales has always nurtured her fondness for dogs. “There’s not a handler in our group who hasn’t had dogs and handled dogs,” she said. 

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.