MARINETTE – When tragedy strikes, every moment counts. Someone who knows this more than most is Troy Olsen, founder of No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue.
Olsen was inspired to establish this non profit organization following his work in the case of the Salnik family tragedy last summer on the waters near Door County and the ongoing search for Lisa Pipp.
Tabitha Armbruster, No One Left Behind secretary, explained that, unfortunately, cases involving missing people may become more common as the population in the Marinette and Menominee area continues to grow. This means that the services that No One Left Behind provides are needed now more than ever.
Seeking ways to put his talents to use, Armbruster explained that Olsen “reached out to several likeminded individuals who all had different skill sets.”
Through this, the No One Left Behind team was built.
The team is made up of divers, drone operators, veterinarians, bankers and many other experts that brought their own experiences and talents forward to serve their community.
Two of the most dedicated team members are Duke and Ranger, representing the “K9 Search and Rescue” aspect.
Olsen has worked extensively with his canine companions to train them in live scent tracking and human remains detection (HRD).
When it comes to training the dogs in tracking and HRD, Armbruster said it “requires exceptional drive and consistency. You also have to have a really strong bond between the dog and the handler.
Olsen’s canines are trained through practical exercises including searching for volunteers hidden in the forest or working with scent packs.
Having dogs on the team provides an unique skillset because when a person is missing “these dogs can go [out] the next day or a week later and still be able to help locate them,” Armbruster said.
Recently, Olsen has been training Henli, an Australian shepherd, in scent tracking.
These training activities are essential because “it’s much more than a hobby, it’s a life or death responsibility because if somebody is missing, or already deceased, we don’t have the ability with our human noses to track them,” Armbruster added.
Accompanied by the searching canines and armed with a variety of drones and radios, No One Left Behind launches at the request of law enforcement agencies. The nonprofit works closely with local departments to share their resources that the police may not have.
“Anyone can donate a drone, but if you don’t know how to operate it then it is no use,” Armbruster explained.
Together, these groups can achieve their overall goal of making sure no one is left behind.
Those looking to learn more or support No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue can look forward to their open house at Ken’s Sports of Green Bay, 4455 Veterans Ave., Suamico, on May 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At this summer kick-off the No One Left Behind team will host demonstrations, raffle off a youth four wheeler and apparel and raise money to help purchase necessary equipment, including new side-scan sonar units, a thermal drone and encrypted radios.
To learn more about No One Left Behind K9 Search and Rescue, visit their Facebook page or donate to them at www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-no-one-left-behind-k9-search-and-rescue.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here