Search and Rescue team find missing person in Forest City training mission

A Blue Ridge K9 Search and Rescue dog successfully finds her 'missing person' inside Smith's Drug Store as John Higgins watches. Photo by Pat Nanney.

When the Blue Ridge K9 Search and Rescue (BRK9SAR) team arrived in Forest City on December 14, attired in their bright orange vests and dark slacks with their dogs on long leashes it was a sure indicator they were on a training mission.

The scenario -- Three people had gone missing and the search and rescue team was assigned to Rutherford County's largest municipality to find the people in three locations in the downtown area.

Arriving in Forest City at about 8:30 a.m. and setting up in the area of the Farmers Market and the Thermal Belt Rail Trail on a rainy, cool Wednesday morning, the team packed up and traveled home less than four hours later-- mission accomplished -- everyone was found safe.

The team included two runners, four handlers and four dogs-- two German Shepherds, one German Shepherd/hound and a Springer Spaniel.

The Springer Spaniel belongs to Tammy Wood, Vice President of BRK9SAR.

Wood said the rescuers were dealing with three scenarios in Forest City, trying to find missing people in all three different locations.

"All (scenarios) were different distances with different difficulties," Wood said. "Three people missing had dropped an article of clothing along the trails," Wood said, explaining the area where the search began.

"After dropping an article clothing, they walked to their 'lost person' locations where the exercise was to take place," Wood said.

"The team was literally tracking and training," Wood explained.

The weather was overcast with 80 percent humidity, 2.7 mph winds and 40 degree temperatures, said a team member. There was drizzling rain during the time of training where the surfaces were primarily concrete and asphalt along a busy main street with pedestrians, dogs, cars, and numerous distractions.

"It was wet weather, cold and all searches were to be inside," Wood said.

The first scenario was .3 miles to the Foothills Animal Clinic where veterinarian Dr. Gretchen Kelly was the 'lost" person and the rescue K9s were required to go inside the vet's office to find Kelly.

"Dogs don't particularly like to go to the vet," Wood said. "It's a fabulous distraction, but they literally had to go into the vet's office," Wood said. "What was really cool about that place, it was a lot more science as Dr. Kelly's scent was everywhere in the clinic," Wood said.

"It was a remarkable scenario to work with, the dog literally had to touch her," Wood said.

The second trail was .4 miles to the next scenario across from the post office on Powell Street.

"We had planned to go inside the post office, but federal laws prevented that," Wood said. Instead the team member, Patrice, went into the post office and then across the road and sat outside a vacant building.

"The dogs actually went to the post office where she had been and then crossed the street and went right to her," Wood said.

The third scenario was also .3 miles from base and required the dog to navigate the busyness of Main Street and determine the location of the lost person (Lynne) inside Smith's Drug Store.

"Owner John Higgins was fabulous. He gave us approval to go into the drug store," said Wood.

"The lost person was one of the runners and she was sitting inside near the window," Wood explained.

"My dog sprung up when we got there and looked in the window and then she ended up going into the store," she said. "It was pretty awesome to see the dogs and to know they knew exactly which door to go in," she said.

When the dogs went inside they made a good sharp turn and there the lost person was sitting in a chair to the left of the door.

"They had all the good food smells, but the dogs remained diligent," Wood continued.

When the searches were completed, the team packed up all the equipment, signs and the dogs for the trip home.

"We service all of Western North Carolina and we choose different places to do the training," she said.

Although the training was the first in Forest City, Wood added, they thoroughly enjoyed the Forest City experience.

"When we train we want to utilize this area," Wood said. "Forest City is such a lovely place especially during Christmas so we wanted to utilize the town and do training with inside sites," she said.

"The town was amazing," Wood said.

Wood said the team was fortunate to have the opportunity to train downtown and she expressed thanks to Frankie Hamrick, of the Rutherford County Emergency Management, Forest City merchants and Police Chief Chris LeRoy for their help.

Forest City Police Officer Lt. Josh Bumgarner also assisted on site.

"There was cooperation all over town," she said.

"We are a supplement to all fire and rescue, looking for lost persons," Wood said.

The team trains 30 hours about twice a month in all types of weather. Among recent searches have been at Buffalo Creek in Lake Lure, the Lake Lure Municipal Golf course and Ingles.

"We've been all over WNC," Wood added. "This is a great group and a great community."

BRK9SAR is a volunteer search and rescue team ready to provide trained dogs and handlers 24/7 to help in rescue in Rutherford, Haywood, Polk, Buncombe,Transylvania and Henderson counties. For more information call 540-840-7239.