SPONSORSHIP PROPOSAL
TO CONTEST
THE REDOG CANINE USAR OPERATIONAL TEST
IN SWITZERLAND
INTRODUCTION
The REDOG operational test takes place in late October 2012 in Les Epeisses near Geneva,
Switzerland. This test comprises 11 x 20 minute searches with about 26 victims, and is held over two days and one night. It is considered the hardest test in the canine disaster world. The test has been accepted and recommended by INSARAG (International Search & Rescue Advisory Group under the umbrella of the United Nations in Geneva).
Note: (REDOG is Switzerland’s only Swiss government approved organisation (both volunteer and professional) to train, test and deploy Swiss canine USAR teams internationally. The Australian Swiss Search Dog Association Inc. (ASSDA) is affiliated with REDOG, the only organisation enjoying this privilege. Refer to: http://www.redog.ch/)
I am seeking financial support and assistance of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia, to enable me and my German Shepherd Dog ‘Jochen’ to travel to Switzerland and participate in this most prestigious event.
To properly prepare for this event, there ait will be necessary to travel to Switzerland up to three months prior to the test. This is because:
1. Both Jochen and I will need the extra training time to acclimatise to their facilities and develop their skills under the tutelage of the REDOG instructors to have a real chance of passing this test.
2. In August a group of REDOG dog/handler teams and instructors will again be travelling to Austria for additional practice high in the mountains where there was a massive rock slide some years ago. This has created a vast ‘rubble’ site and provides the perfect opportunity to prepare the teams for the operational test. We have nothing to equal this in Australia and the additional training would be extremely beneficial to both myself and Jochen..
WHY THIS TEST?
As already stated, the REDOG canine USAR test including their assessment tools and criteria is accepted by INSARAG. REDOG enjoys a very high reputation globally and any canine USAR team that has passed their test has reached the highest standard available today.
In addition, the knowledge and experience gained will be invaluable to the Australian canine USAR world as a whole and the USAR task forces in particular, who will have access to the best that can be produced. In addition, if the team passes, it will mean the following –
1. It will raise the profile of the German Shepherd Breed. An Australian bred and trained German Shepherd capable of reaching the pinnacle in international disaster search on international territory must surely be the best advertisement for this super breed in this country.
2. It will be the most qualified canine USAR team in the Southern Hemisphere.
3. It will raise the profile of USAR dogs in Australia to such a degree that their essential need cannot be ignored.
4. It will prove that despite relatively poor facilities in this country, with some additional help Australians can produce world class teams.
HOW DOES AUSTRALIA BENEFIT FROM THIS?
Whilst Australia now has a National Canine USAR Standard and Best Practice Guidelines incorporated in the Australian National Safety Training Package, other than in South Australia, we do not have adequate facilities to run the higher required tests and even those facilities drastically need improvement for the tests we do run.
The highest level attainable in the Australian Standard is the Advanced Operational Test comprising 7 x 20-minute searches locating 14 victims.
Jochen and I were one of three teams, (of which Jochen was the only German Shepherd Dog), to pass this test in South Australia in October 2011 with very high scores. It is because of that very high pass that it was felt justified to try to send this team to Switzerland. The Australian Advanced Test already completed so successfully, will be viewed as a ‘pre-test’ in Switzerland and will qualify the team to participate in the REDOG Operational Test. As a result, a place has been reserved for them to compete in Switzerland.
THE PARTICIPANTS
THE DOG - ‘JOCHEN’
Jochen is a son of Lafer von Batu and Duval Uska, an Iwan vom Lechtal daughter, whelped 19.10.05. From a very early age he demonstrated his ability to work successfully in the field of Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) searching for, and locating persons buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings.
Throughout his training and participation in the various Urban Task Force 48-hour exercises the team has attended, Jochen has consistently proven the absolute value of a highly trained and properly tested USAR dog in locating buried persons. It is recognised that a well-trained USAR dog is an important component of a USAR Task Force. Simply put, the trained USAR dog ‘tells’ the rescuers where to start excavating.
THE HANDLER – Ms ELKE EFFLER
I have been involved with canine search and rescue training since the late seventies when I was introduced to this discipline by the late Reddy Toman on one of his trips to Australia. In 1983 I travelled to Germany, Holland and Switzerland to gain more knowledge. The next trip was in 1994 with my new husband Peter. We settled on Switzerland and REDOG for their knowledge and support. Peter and I founded the Australian Swiss Search Dog Association Inc. (ASSDA) in 1995 and either individually or together we have since made numerous entirely self-funded trips to Switzerland for additional training and experience. Under the REDOG training system I (and Peter) am an instructor for canine wilderness search and canine disaster search, and have had instruction in snow/avalanche search. I am also a qualified disaster search assessor and team leader.
OUR DEPLOYMENT
Jochen and I, were on standby four times during 2011; twice to Queensland, once in relation to the earthquake in Christchurch and once to Japan. In the case of Queensland, the teams were stood down as the authorities of that state eventually decided that did not require any canine search teams. In respect to Christchurch and Japan, the South Australian Task Force the Australian Swiss Search Dog Association Inc. canine teams are attached to, did not receive the permission of the Attorney General to proceed.
After the fires of Black Saturday, and at the request the Melbourne Fire Brigade to field dog teams, Jochen and I, as part of an ASSDA team were sent to Kinglake. Jochen located a handful of small human bones at a site in Strathewen, (as identified by the Victim Identification Team). Given that Jochen is only trained on the scent of live human ‘victims’, this was an astonishing result.
ADDITIONAL
Jochen and I were invited to participate in Cesar Millan’s show at the Melbourne HiSense arena on 23rd November 2011 as a search dog team. This was in front of an audience of 2500 people, inside a closed facility and added another string to Jochen’s achievements.THE COST
Based on current prices, the following is a summary of the cost associated with this venture. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to reduce the actual costs in relation to getting Jochen to Switzerland and home again.
Whilst I am obtaining private accommodation in Switzerland, unfortunately there are travel costs and some living expenses that are a necessity. As Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in which to live, I have tried to be realistic in relation to the weekly costs required.
Airfare | Elke Effler (estimate.) | 2,500.00 |
Airfare | Jochen (Dogtainers quote) | 7,000.00 |
Quarantine 30 days | 1,500.00 | |
Veterinary Fees re quarantine | Export/import - estimate | 1,000.00 |
Living expenses | 3 months @ $250.00 pw | 3,000.00 |
TOTAL FUNDING SOUGHT | $15,000.00 |
SUMMARY
Given that Jochen has so ably proven himself to be a quality USAR dog and he is now mature and settled, this year is an opportune time to reach for the highest goal in USAR for the following reasons:
1. To demonstrate that the German Shepherd Dog breed is still able to be classed as the best all-round working dog (bred from show lines!), especially in the service of saving lives at a disaster.
2. To demonstrate to the Australian canine USAR world what is possible with a sound, well-bred and well-trained dog.
3. To demonstrate to the Australian USAR Task Force Management that civilians are able to provide world-class canine search teams given adequate support.
As this is the first time we are unable to personally fund a trip to Switzerland , it is necessary to obtain sponsorship to achieve this goal. With all of the above, I see this as a most prestigious and extremely beneficial way of promoting both the German Shepherd Dog and with your assistance, the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions / queries on this sponsorship plea.
Respectfully submitted
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