August 12, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Department to Present New Live Disaster Search

Local bank makes purchase possible through donation . .

The Shreveport Fire Department will present "Citizen Wendy," its latest K-9 weapon in locating victims of disasters, during a ceremony this Wednesday at Citizen National Bank, 1545 East 70 Street, at 1:00 p.m. The K-9 was purchased through a $2,500 donation from the bank to the Fire Department’s K-9 Search and Rescue Team.

The K-9 Search and Rescue team is comprised of five handlers and with the addition of Wendy, the four-legged members now total four. Wendy has been specially trained to detect the presence of human smell and strategically maneuver in live scene disasters or wilderness searches. That means in the event of a man-made or natural disaster, the K-9 can find those victims that are trapped and needing emergency care. Additionally, in the event that someone, such as a child becomes lost in the woods, Wendy has been trained to explore the best avenues to detect their presence. She received her extensive training in Memphis, Tennessee, and was fully operational upon delivery to the department. ###