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Children's Literature
The job of rescue dogs received national exposure as they searched for survivors of the September 11 attack. The chief job of rescue dogs is to help save lives, which they do by sniffing out missing people. It takes special characteristics to do this type of work. All rescue dogs must have certain physical and mental capabilities such as being obedient, bold, strong and able to get along with other dogs and people. Bloodhounds, German shepherds and Labrador retrievers often make good rescue dogs. A majority of rescue dogs specialize in trailing or air scenting. Snow rescues, water rescues and the recovery of bodies are types of searches in which one may find a rescue dog. Training for the dogs and their handlers is about two years and begins ideally when the dog is between two months and ten months. The dog must learn a variety of tasks including obedience, agility exercises, trailing and air scenting. The tasks of a rescue dog and its handler can be emotionally draining. About one hundred rescue teams are members of the American Rescue Dog Association that was founded in 1972. Just one dog can do the work of twenty to thirty people, making rescue dogs an important resource. This book is part of the "Animals with Jobs" series and includes quotes, color photographs, bibliography and index. 2003, KidHaven Press/The Gale Group Inc,— Michele Wilbur