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WEDNESDAY JUNE 12, 2013
Paws for thought By FRANKIE WEBB n May 20, 2013, Moore, O Oklahoma was hit by an EF5 tornado with winds
peaking at 340 kmh. Former Levin man Andrew Pitcher was in the thick of finding 23 dead 377 injured people. Mr Pitcher and his golden retriever dog Chief are members of the Lincoln Area Urban Search and Rescue team. ‘‘He spoke to us when he got home,’’ mum Helen said from her Levin home. ‘‘He worked there for two days and was exhausted.’’ Andrew started his love of dog training when he adopted a yellow labrador called Sandy and joined the Horowhenua Obedience Dog Training Club. ‘‘I was scared of dogs,’’ Helen said. ‘‘Andrew was 11 or 12 when brought home this big yellow dog, we didn’t really know what to do with it so he joined dog club.’’ The combination went on to achieve success in whatever canine discipline came along. In 1986, former Waiopehu College student Andrew, left for the States to complete a business doctorate. From there he married an American girl, got a job as senior software developer for IBM in Nebraska so coming back to New Zealand to live just wasn’t on the cards. ‘‘He never stopped working with his dogs though,’’ Helen said. ‘‘He got involved in agility, obedience, fly ball and tracking.’’ For more than 40 years he worked with a variety of dogs, mostly retrievers and labradors. The United States Humane Society recognised his contribution to Search and Rescue, giving his dog Andy the Canine Search and Rescue Dog Of the Year award. Helen said Andrew’s worst experience was in New
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Chief, trained by former Levin man Andrew Pitcher, worked in Oklahoma last month looking for survivors from the EF5 tornado which killed 23 people. Orleans in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. ‘‘He said there were so many bodies, there was the smell that went with that, it left a huge impression.’’ While Andrew and his family plan rare visits to Levin, Helen and husband Nolan have visited Nebraska a number of times. ‘‘We travelled to Kansas with Andrew to compete in a dog event, and to Atlanta where he gave a demonstration,’’ Helen said. ‘‘He has been called out to find people trapped in silos and other events where a dog trained for human scent can help. He absolutely loves it and is lucky he has a job where he can give his time to do it.’’ Andrew’s love and interest in dogs rubbed off on mum who has been secretary of the Horowhenua Dog training Club for 12 years, training her own dog to Companion Dog Excellence and Canine Good Citizen silver.
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THE FACTS Lincoln Area Urban Search and Rescue dispatched four K-9 units, including Andrew Pitcher’s Chief. ‘‘He’s been trained to detect live human scent, he’s ready to work, ready to help,’’ says his trainer, Andrew Pitcher. The same group have been on 22 deployments including to New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. The Urban Search and Rescue Team brings with it 27,215 kilograms of gear to be completely selfsufficient for 72-hours.
Black Beauty’s new home — page 3
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Former Levin man Andrew Pitcher and dog Chief searching through the ruins for survivors from the EF5 tornado which hit Oklahoma last month.
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Who stole our worms? — page 13
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