Chapter 1 Just A Dog excerpt, featuring Debra Tosch & Abbey searching the 9-11 tragedy

9-11-2001, Janet and I walked into the clubhouse at the Shadow Hills Golf Course in Canon City, Colorado. There on television was the first airliner crashing into the twin towers. Shocked would be an understatement, knowing at that very moment our country was being attacked. Being involved in aviation most of my life, this was especially difficult seeing these airliners crashing into giant buildings. I knew the pilots were dead or they would never allow this to happen. Hopefully no one will forget this day where thousands perished, both in the air and on the ground. During the days that followed I watched as the search and rescue efforts began. Seeing the dogs was especially intriguing for me. I researched everything I could find about these handlers and their incredible animals. Later in the spring of 2002 I contacted the Search and Rescue Foundation in Ojai, California. I inquired about their work at the 911 tragedy, and if I could visit them. Janet and I traveled there in May where we spent the day observing the dogs training with two teams in rubble piles of twisted steel, concrete boulders and other search areas.
Debra Tosch provided me an interview after the day’s training was completed. At that time she was the program manager for this organization. Today she is the executive director. The bold print are my questions and comments.
Please tell us about your experience in New York.
I am a part of the LA City Task Force and we went with the San Diego Task Force during the second wave, 10 days after 9-11.
We worked 12 hour shifts, day and night. We began at 4:30 am. We would eat and catch a bus that took us as close to the site as allowed, then we walked 10 blocks to ground zero with all our gear and dogs.
What were you feeling as you made this walk?
First I could smell the smoke as I got closer and closer and then more and more damage. I began to see broken windows in buildings that were still standing and suddenly the search site appeared. TV coverage could not begin to convey the magnitude of destruction. It is impossible to comprehend the indescribable devastation; it was overwhelming to say the least. Immediately I realized there is no training for this type of thing for the dogs. Every type of dangerous and harmful object imaginable was there. We set up a tent and then Abby went to work like it was no big deal, as if it was just a place to play. Abby and I started our search in the pile of debris looking for survivors, body parts, etc. Although Abby’s previous FEMA certification training consisted of things like climbing ladders, crossing a wooden plank eight feet above the ground and searching all types of rubble piles, in New York there was only twisted steel and beams with 20-40 foot drops. Even though it was difficult for me, Abbey negotiated it with ease with her four-wheel-drive.

What about the dogs and their response to bodies that were being found? Interview continues in book.