Three year-old Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) certified Joss stands at the top of Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) fierce and determined. SheB次元官网网址檚 been trained to locate someone buried under the snow. Though the gravity of her work canB次元官网网址檛 be overstated, to her, work is just another walk in the park.

B次元官网网址淔or her itB次元官网网址檚 all a game. Everything is fun,B次元官网网址� says Revelstoke Search and Rescue Volunteer Jeni Gibbs riding the chairlift with Joss at RMR. B次元官网网址淲hen I say do you want to go to work, thatB次元官网网址檚 like, do you want to go have a really good time. Not really like most peopleB次元官网网址檚 association with their job.B次元官网网址�

Gibbs is JossB次元官网网址� handler. SheB次元官网网址檚 trained Joss from birth and says they have an almost telepathic connection.

Today, Gibbs has set up an exercise thatB次元官网网址檚 both practice and fun for Joss. Hidden in the snow is a friendly volunteer. And Joss is going to try and find her.

Gibbs gives Joss the codeword, letting her know that itB次元官网网址檚 time to do her job.

SheB次元官网网址檚 poised as she performs the rescue drill, scanning the terrain with a steadfast determination and ease before alerting her handler that sheB次元官网网址檚 done her part.

It takes Joss less than 30 seconds to find her volunteer buried in the snow on the Southside of Mt. Mackenzie at RMR, and Gibbs rewards her with a game of tug of war. ItB次元官网网址檚 all part of the game.

Though itB次元官网网址檚 all fun for Joss, it takes years of relationship building and work to get dogs to demonstrate the kinds of behaviours necessary to get validated and certified as an avalanche rescue dog and perform the way Joss does.

But Gibbs is humble. She calls it, B次元官网网址渆asy.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty easy, itB次元官网网址檚 like she knows what IB次元官网网址檓 thinking, and I know what sheB次元官网网址檚 thinking, and we can kind of read each other,B次元官网网址� says Gibbs. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like this is where mom is gonna let me go and run around, or this is where IB次元官网网址檓 gonnaB次元官网网址� have to go back to the truck. When I say something she just knows what it means because, I taught her.B次元官网网址�

Because of all the time theyB次元官网网址檝e spent together training, Gibbs and Joss have a special bond.

Gibbs calls Joss her best friend, and says she is beyond excited that she gets to spend her work days working with her dog.

B次元官网网址淭o have your best friend with you when you go to work, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty awesome,B次元官网网址� says Gibbs.

According to CARDA, one avalanche rescue dog can search hectare of avalanche terrain in 30 minutes.

They say it would take human beings working in a group about four hours to do the same.

Founded in 1978, CARDA is dedicated to saving the lives of those caught in avalanches.

To report a typo, email:
jake.sherman@revelstokereview.com.

jake.sherman@revelstokereview.com
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