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Our Hero, Hurricane How a rescued dog became a rescue dog by Toni Drugmand As seen in Angels on Earth, Sept/Oct 2006 |
Hurricane takes a break from FEMA training to look toward the future.
You
couldn't sit by watching the television images from New Orleans and elsewhere
in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and not be
affected. Thousands of people left homeless, families torn asunder, desperate
people forced to leave their pets behind.
As a professional dog trainer I was
a member of an internet mailing list for trainers who specialized in problem
dogs. June Towler sent
out a plea
for help. She was part of a group called Stealth Volunteers.
Working in teams, the "Stealths" paddled through a still-flooded New Orleans that was eerily quiet. They battled unsafe waters, treacherous de-bris and stifling summer humidity searching for animals too weak to mew or cry. The rescued animals went to the Lamar Dixon Equestrian Center outside of New Orleans, or to Humane Society shelters all over the country.
June Towler described one dog, a pit bull, who was in a Santa Fe, N.M., shelter. "He is about eighteen months old and only weighs thirty-eight pounds," June wrote. "He has been labeled unadoptable and vicious, and is scheduled to be euthanized. I believe that if given a chance he may not be vicious at all."
 Cross-country buds: Storm and Hurricane made it to Dog-On-It, Toni's obedience school in Phoenix. |
It wasn't hard for me to imagine the dog's situation. Already trauma-tized by the hurricane, he was now cooped up inside a cage in a crowded shelter. He deserved a chance. I e-mailed June back: "I'm in Phoenix," I wrote, "but I'm willing at least to evaluate him. Somehow."
Now, how to get him? I called my old friend Storm, a Special Forces soldier who had experience with dogs. He happened to love pit bulls and was glad to help out "a sur-vivor." Storm agreed to pick up the dog and bring him the 500 miles to me.
On New Year's Eve Storm's pickup rolled into my driveway. Storm opened the door and out came one wild dog. He pulled on the leash, jumped up and sniffed everything in sight. Storm could barely hold him back. He brought him into the house and let him go. The dog barreled around through every room like a hurricane on four legs blowing through the house.
"Hurricane!" Storm said. "That's what you should name him!"
We got Hurricane into a dog crate, and Storm told me about the trip. "At first he was jumping around in the truck, looking at everything. But after a while he lay down up front so he could see my face.
"So you think he's got potential?" I said. "You think he could be trained?"
"I've never seen a dog as alert as this one," Storm said. "He'd be sleeping in the back of the truck, and if I so much as turned my head to look at him he woke up. If I got out to get food or fuel up he'd watch for me. When I came back he'd kiss me hello and hop into the back again. To be honest, I wish I could keep this dog myself."
Bang! Hurricane hurled himself against the door to his crate. It flew open and he tumbled out, grinning at us, his tongue hanging out to one side.
"We'd better get to work," I said.
"Yeah," said Storm. "He's a lot like an unguided missile-friendly, but to-tally undisciplined."
 Teacher's pet: Lisa Harford and her star pupil in New Jersey. We think he's most likely to succeed. |
Once I got Hurricane's attention his progress was amazing. Everyone on my staff wanted a turn with him. After only 10 days he could heel, sit, run to his place and stay-all off leash! Hurricane would be a great addition to any family who adopted him. It looked like Hurricane had gotten his happy ending after all. But his story wasn't over yet. I got a call from Lisa Harford, a dog trainer in New Jersey. Lisa was part of the FEMA search-and-rescue team. "We're looking for a dog," she said, "a healthy, energetic, nonaggressive dog who can cope with the stress of being around other dogs and handlers and rescue workers in the confusion of a rescue site."
Could this be the right place for Hur-ricane? Could a rescued dog become a rescuer? Hurricane certainly learned quickly and loved people-he even climbed like a mountain goat.
"I've got just the dog for you," I told her. Even though it meant Storm and I had to say good-bye.
Hurricane has taken to Lisa and her FEMA team and will be in training in New Jersey for six months or so before going on active duty. "I don't have any major doubts about his passing the final tests," Lisa said last time we spoke, "but if he doesn't, I can assure you Hurricane will never be homeless again."
Before Hurricane left on his latest adventure Storm got down on his knees and gave him a big hug. "Remember, son," Storm whispered in Hurricane's flopped ear, "when all the angels are busy, God sends a dog." That's Hurricane, all right. Our angel-in-training. Our hero.