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Locals training animals for emergencies

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

"Sit," K-9 handler Peter Jarvis tells his female puppy, Akylla.

Akylla stares into Jarvis' eyes and prepares to leap into his arms.

"Stay!" Jarvis says as the black German Shepherd pup flashes those puppy dog eyes and sinks her chin between her paws. The pup places one paw over the other and begins to pant.

To the untrained eye, some might think that Jarvis is training Akylla to be his personal pet.

But Akylla and a sable-colored German Shepherd puppy, Sar, will be trained for disaster, air scent and live victim searches similar to canines used after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Jarvis, a 36-year-old Coweta County resident and a Fayette County firefighter and emergency medical technician, is a member of the newly formed, Fayette County-based K-9 Search & Rescue of Atlanta.

Werner Frey, a 34-year-old Coweta County resident, founded the group.

Jarvis is charged with raising Akylla. Frey is charged with rearing Sar.

Frey formed the group that will help the Atlanta metro area and the state fill a great need.

"There are only seven dogs right now in the state of Georgia that are able to do any kind of work like that," Frey said.

An official from the terrorism division of the Office of Homeland Security Georgia Emergency Management Agency peaked his interest about starting the K-9 Search & Rescue of Atlanta. But it didn't take much to convince him.

Frey, an emergency medical technician and firefighter and a 10-year veteran of the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services knew it was something he wanted to do.

A trip to the hospital with his wife, coupled with an unfruitful exchange with one organization fueled his desire to start the organization.

"I was reading through a magazine article about disaster dogs through an organization in California," Frey said. "They donate the dogs to the fire departments (trained and ready)."

Frey called to inquire, but soon his hopes were dashed when he learned he did not qualify because Georgia was not a Federal Emergency Management Agency task force state, Frey said. But Frey refused to give up.

"I still wanted to do it enough that I just kept going and finding out more information," Frey said.

In addition to compiling information and laying the groundwork for the organization, Frey contacted the Dekalb County Fire Department, which also has a K-9 Search & Rescue Unit. Dekalb County officials agreed to serve as an adviser to Frey and Jarvis.

"Once we're established, we're hoping to be able to join up with them," Frey said. "We'll do a north and south thing."

Frey and Jarvis are the only two in the K-9 Search & Rescue of Atlanta. One day Frey hopes the rolls will swell to 10 people, but that won't happen overnight.

The organization is still in its infant stages, but it has already gained the support of Fayette County Fire Chief Jack Krakeel, who has agreed to allow the men to train the specially bred puppies outdoors at the station about an hour a day during their downtime.

Training the dogs at the station is a big help, he said.

"Primarily, what we're looking at doing with these dogs are disaster searches," Frey said. "During 9/11, they had from what I understand about 100 canine teams up there that actually searched the rubble pile looking for live victims. We're working towards live victim searches and eventually down the road, we'll maybe get cross-trained or bring in more dogs and more handlers to do cadaver work."

The functions of the organization will not overlap with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, Frey said.

"The sheriff's department has plenty of tracking dogs so we really don't need to go too far into that, but we can still track as far as lost children and Alzheimer's patients," Frey said.

The cost to prepare a dog for disaster and live victim searches is about $10,000 for training and equipment, Frey said. The group is working to obtain their non-profit status, but until they receive their 501(c)(3), most of the money they need will come from their pocket or hopefully, from grants and donations, he added.

Veterinarians Dr. Ray Rudd and Ashley Linton of the Braelinn Village Animal Hospital in Peachtree City have already pitched in and made a substantial donation. The vets have agreed to help with food and vet care, which has really made the difference, Frey indicated.

"They're assisting us with the vet bills and the vet care," Frey said. "They've arranged with Eukanuba to give us a good deal on dog food, with flea medications and heartworms medication. That's kind of what we were looking for because trying to become a non-profit organization is all in the works right now."

Every drop of help has furthered their goal, but more is needed. To donate to the organization, please contact Werner Frey at 678-378-4953 or Peter Jarvis at 678-471-5441.