Dog Whisperer

[3BX2]

Yes very warm and fuzzy story, until the engine goes "cough, cough".

 

Then "We've got some 'splaining to do, Lucy" ! Wonder if TC has any warm or fuzzy thoughts about this? Hope that a dog loving Inspector gets to investigate the File !

 

Not exactly inside the true reasons for Class D, but Hey, still a great story.

 

I took a hiker and his dog off a cliff a while ago. Flew the Rottie alone in a CARDA harness, the SAR guys at the bottom said that it was all "teeth and claws" as 100+ pounds of mean and terrified Dog was lowered to them.

[hmu]

Ummm......because the dog owners "paid" for the service (duh) !!!

Thanks 407 Driver and 3BX2 for making some intelligent and informed comments on this topic.

Helilog,not sure how to respond to you other than "DUH" !

[SuddenStop]

"Searcher Tim Jones said he found the dog by the creek, where he had a strong hunch the animal would be"

 

Apparently Tim walked in.

 

Perhaps Tim was concerned and didn't have a leash with him and didn't want the $250 fine :

 

 

 

 

 

Metro Vancouver is considering ramping up enforcement and fines for unleashed dogs in parks, but dog owners on the North Shore are biting back.

 

The regional government says that nearly half of dog owners using North Vancouver's Capilano River Regional Park let their dogs run free, despite regulations against it. Right now, anyone caught with a dog off-leash can be fined $250.

 

District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton argues that the rule is meant to prevent unpleasant encounters.

 

"The reason we have bylaws in the first place, quite frankly, is because of people who don't respect other people's rights and interests and public property as much as they should," he told CTV News.

 

The regional board believes that keeping a tighter leash on dog owners would protect the sensitive mountain terrain of the park.

 

"Dogs running loose can do damage, and that is often a product of what the owner's latitude is," Walton said.

 

But some dog owners say they'll continue to ignore the leash rule. Ed Harris said he'll take his dog Old Luke on higher trails outside of the park.

 

"Bloody rules and regulations -- they regulate everything to death, don't they," he said.

 

Fellow canine enthusiast James Ennis says the Metro Vancouver's strategy just doesn't make sense.

 

"There's going to be a lot of unhappy voters if they pursue that course. I don't see what the upside is," he said.

 

In Vancouver, Park Board Chairman Aaron Jasper says the current off-leash policy is not working, and he's asking to staff to meet next week to begin reviewing regulations.

 

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Peter Grainger

[Bif]

I don't see how the risks associated with rescuing the pup would have been any more/less than a typical class D training session... and you rescue pilots *do* conduct training sessions with the wardens and rescue crews you work with, right?

 

So, given a proper risk analyses, I would imagine the pilot & crews would have viewed that mission almost as subsidized training, given that the owners paid at least a portion of the costs associated...

 

Good on them!

[RupertPupkin]

I'm going to jump in here before this really goes sideways. There are some good points being brought up for discussion, however some of the info being touted as a "fact" are not true facts at all.

I was the one flying for this rescue and am willing to set a few things straight as well as discuss other options, practices etc. as long as it is kept in a productive manner.

 

The first incorrect "fact" stated was that the dog was on a trail and that since people were able to hike in to the dog, they should be able to hike him out. The video clip was edited in a way that it looked like people were with the dog, however those guys were approx. 300 feet above with a cliff and a creek between them. That is where the dog was spotted from and the person (an experienced hiker) decided he couldn't get any closer safely. NSR was called along with myself and we spotted the dog from the air in the same spot an hour later.

 

Why was he still there? As it happens with many people in the mountains, he was "cliffed out" and pacing on a 5'x10' ledge. The fact is I can think of at least a dozen rescues in the last couple of years where people were unhurt yet unable to move from a location due to terrain. So, if NSR or any joe public had taken the time and risk to hike to the dog, guess how they would have gotten out? Whoever said Class D, give yourself a pat on the back.

 

Other options usually include a hover exit or hiking in/rope rescue. Those options were discounted for reasons already mentioned. However lets talk about hover exit for a second. Who would do a hover exit for a dog? Almost everybody I bet. Many of the guys I have talked to with actual class D experience say (and I agree)that they would prefer class D over hover exit.

 

Everybody that is worried about your engine going cough,cough....

Is it any better when you are setting a drill, water bucketing, hover exiting, flying in the mountains with no options to land? When you're taking your dirt nap some will say " at least he died doing something he loved" and some will say "he died to save some trees?????" (or dog).

 

The two guys on the line along with Tim Jones as the spotter make up one of the most experienced Class D teams around. They are people that I consider friends and believe me, when we decide to do any Class D operation, a part of me always thinks of their young families as well as mine.

 

As part of the pre-mission briefing we discuss go/no-go factors. In this case, we decided that the parameters would be viewed as a training flight. Coincidentally we are doing their re-cert this weekend...

 

As far as getting paid as a reason for doing it, the money collected from the family is being donated to the SPCA in Hurley's name. I said we should keep it but Peter is too generous as usual....

 

 

Now that some of the "facts" have been cleared up, let's keep the discussion going. I will address any questions posted...........Welcome to the new civilized forum...hopefully

 

Kelsey Wheeler

GO CANUCKS GO!!

[Iceman]

Awesome job man, thanks for posting the facts.

[R22Captain]

x2 to what IceMan said....great job!

 

(great reporting from Hawaii by the way too )

[SuddenStop]

Once you said "go canucks go"....all credibility went out the window (just kidding of course)

[Auto Relight]

Thanks for the facts Kelsey, and well done as usual.

 

This thread is yet another example of the processed dog food that makes up this forum, and a large part of our industry here in Canada, spouting off without a clue. An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. Folks might be well advised to remember that.

 

Some people need a hobby, pet, woman, or an alcohol habit - anything to get a bit of perspective. Brutal as usual, carry on Vertical Forum! :down:

 

AR

 

Go Habs

[Coastal]

Nice work Wheeler,on both the flying and setting the facts down. Well done.

 

C