Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Studio 9 School of the Arts students met a local hero on Friday morning (April 23).
Chase, Central Okanagan Search and Rescuesa国际传媒檚 (COSAR), furry team member, visited the students with his handler Terry Downs.
After Chasesa国际传媒檚 first rescue made the headlines, the students made him cards to thank him for his efforts. Studio 9 principal Cadence Trites then invited Downs and Chase to the school to present them with gifts of appreciation.
sa国际传媒淐OSAR members, Isa国际传媒檓 so in awe of them,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淭heir dedication, the time they put insa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 gruelling. -30 C temperatures donsa国际传媒檛 stop them. Itsa国际传媒檚 pouring rain, it doesnsa国际传媒檛 stop them. I really appreciate that there are people out there with such big hearts and such amazing training and skills that are out there helping others.sa国际传媒�
Trites, whose husband is a member of COSAR, said she wanted to invite Chase to the school as an interactive educational moment for her students. She also wanted to highlight the work search and rescue teams do.
sa国际传媒淚 thought it would be really great for the kids to know about him and recognize that people in the community do things like volunteering and especially with a dog, it just touches everybodysa国际传媒檚 hearts.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淐OSAR members, they miss birthday parties, they miss gatherings, they have to leave at the drop of a hat. But Isa国际传媒檓 willing to give up time with my husband so he can help others who need him,sa国际传媒� she said.
On Friday, students gave Chase treats and were able to learn about the intensive training Downs has done with the pup, so he can be helpful to the community.
Downs said Chase is her first search dog, having worked with and trained canines for 25 years. She said shesa国际传媒檚 had other work dogs, including drug-sniffing ones.
She said Chasesa国际传媒檚 success isnsa国际传媒檛 lost on her or her colleagues.
sa国际传媒淚 had a peer contact me and she said sa国际传媒榶ou know how rare this is? I waited ten years before my dog found anyonesa国际传媒�,sa国际传媒� she said.
sa国际传媒淥bviously, I feel very blessed and fortunate and whether it took one time or a hundred times, the point is wesa国际传媒檙e here to help the team and help the community. Ultimately, thatsa国际传媒檚 whatsa国际传媒檚 most important.sa国际传媒�
If you want to follow Chasesa国际传媒檚 adventures and what he does when hesa国际传媒檚 at work, visit his .
READ MORE: sa国际传媒楥hase the Wonder Dogsa国际传媒� saves missing Kelowna senior who wandered from hospital
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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