The Downeast Dog Scouts’ latest community service effort benefits the Hancock County members of the Maine Search and Rescue Dog organization. Maine Search and Rescue Dogs (MESARD) is a non-profit, all volunteer organization formed in 1983 with the help of the Maine Warden Service. A MESARD team consists of a highly trained handler and search dog that have passed a demanding certification process. Teams receive extensive training and must meet rigid evaluation standards to become MESARD certified. Hancock County presently has nine dog and handler teams, and the Downeast Dog Scouts appreciate their dedication to serving the local and statewide communities of Maine in times of need.

Both MESARD handlers and dogs must prove their proficiency as well as pass certification tests on a variety of realistic search problems. Handler training includes first aid, CPR, land navigation, radio communications, wilderness survival, crime scene preservation, the incident command system, ground search techniques and search organization. MESARD dogs are certified in obedience and one or more of the following: wilderness air scent, tracking/trailing, water search, human remains detection search and article search. Additional information about MESARD can be found at: www.MESARD.org.

Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 wanted to contribute to this vital program in some way and found that the teams were in need of updated batteries for their communications radios. The new lithium batteries will not develop a "memory" and have a much longer operating time and can be easily maintained. According to MESARD member Kelly Pontbriand, the two-way communication radios are the teams’ lifeline while in the woods. “It is our key to communicating with our team members while training or communicating with law enforcement while on a search. Lithium batteries are the best way to ensure that our radios will be able to transmit potentially life-saving information when dealing with emergency situations.” After a successful yard sale fundraiser, the Downeast Dog Scouts were able to contribute funds for nine lithium batteries for the Hancock County MESARD teams.

Downeast Dog Scouts Troop 159 is a local non- profit subgroup of the Dog Scouts of America established in September 2007 and serves Hancock County, Maine. Promotion of responsible dog ownership and involvement in the community lies at the heart of this group. Troop members take an active role in the community by providing educational programs and canine related community service. The Dog Scouts of America is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating people about responsible dog ownership, the important role of the human/canine bond and to challenge people and dogs to learn how to better serve each other. For more information about the Downeast Dog Scouts, contact Troop Leader Robyn Douglas at downeastdogscouts@yahoo.com or call 207-266-5807. Information about the mission of the Dog Scouts of America can be found at: www.dogscouts.org.