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LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., Mar. 6 /Associated News/ -- BowTie Press, the U.S. leader in expert pet and animal care, farming, and transportation books announced today the official graduation and FEMA certification of its dog and handler rescue team, sponsored by over $50,000 in proceeds donated to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) from the sale of the Benjamin Franklin award-winning book Dog Heroes of 9/11: A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs by Nona Kilgore Bauer.
The official team name is the BowTie/Kennel Club Books Search Dog Team, affectionately known as Icon (the Yellow Labrador) and his handler Steve Swaney. It takes years of training to get a dog qualified for FEMA certification, and many do not make it. For the search-and-rescue canine, certification includes proper command control, agility skills, barking alert skills to notify rescuers of a find, and willingness to overcome innate fears of tunnels and wobbly surfaces under the guidance of the handler. For the handler, certification includes written and verbal tests regarding search-and-rescue strategies, briefing and debriefing skills, and canine handling skills.
According to Kennel Club Books' founder, Andrew De Prisco, “Kennel Club Books is proud that Icon and Steve have earned their certification. The role of SAR dogs in our society deserves increased publisher awareness, which Dog Heroes of September 11th seeks to accomplish. It was part of our vision as the publisher of this book that monies raised would contribute to our nation's critical response capabilities in catastrophes, storms, and terrorist attacks.”
Dog Heroes of September 11th by award-winning author Nona Kilgore Bauer (2006, $29.95, Hardcover, 232 pages, full-color photographs), is a chronicle of 78 search and rescue (SAR) teams that responded in America 's time of need. Many of these teams were among the first responders to the biggest attack on American soil in history, and their vivid accounts of the aftermath are heartrending and unexpectedly uplifting. For more information on the book and photos of these brave dogs in action, visit: www.dogheroesof911.com
For more information or to schedule an interview with the author of Dog Heroes of 9/11 , contact MaryAnn Frattarole, Marketing Manager, at 949-855-8822, x 4700.
About BowTie Press and Kennel Club Books
BowTie Press and its sister publisher Kennel Club Books offer the finest animal care and pet books for dog, cat, horse, bird, fish, reptile, small animals, and farm animals as well as rural living and transportation topics. From how to house-train a new puppy to winning a “Best in Show,” homeowners, experts, and professionals look to BowTie Press and Kennel Club Books for the best and most relevant publications. More information can be found at: www.bowtiepress.com |
