Joan

My blogs

Gender	Female
Industry	Education
Occupation	Professor
Location	Bloomington, IL
Introduction	I grew up with dogs as companions and pets, usually the stray or unwanted mutt puppy that I brought home and begged my parents to keep. During graduate school I finally had time and a place to have my first dog as an adult, and I adopted "Chief", the runt of 13 Redbone/Lab mix puppies. Little did I know the adventures we would share and the path he would take me down. I began training him for Search and Rescue (SAR) at about 6 months old and so the journey began. He led an amazing life and career as a SAR dog, and more importantly my best friend, and I said good-bye to him in late 2009 - the most painful moment ever. But my love of K9 SAR was now set, and "Sula", a female Redbone Coonhound, remained to carry on the life and passion that started with Chief. Now, my third partner "Buzz" arrived in late 2011, and the journey continues.