If you're reading this, chances are one of your favorite things is hiking with your dogs - out in the wilderness, on the trails. Most days go off without a hitch, and each one feels better than the last. But what if something doesn’t? Enter Stacey, a K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) EMT Vet.
Stacey created Far Fetched Adventures and Charities, dedicated to improving the lives of dogs and their owners. Through their programs, they equip pet parents with crucial skills for outdoor safety, provide emergency services for animals in need, and ensure that special needs pets can experience the joys of adventure.
From trail safety to veterinary access for underserved communities, Far Fetched (FF) is making a difference in the lives of both pets and people. We chatted Stacey about trail safety and exactly what she does -
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Hi Stacey; thanks for chatting with us! First, can you tell us what exactly a K9 Search and Rescue EMT means?
These are technically two skill sets combined for service within the field of search and rescue. I’m an EMT as well as a member of a local K9 Search and Rescue Team.
The K9 team works in coordination with the local Sheriff's Office and Arizona law enforcement. We are called to assist with searches in which specially trained K9’s are needed.
My service as an EMT is put to use in the event a human team member or member of the public needs pre-hospital care while we’re on a mission out in the field. My role as a veterinarian is put to use in the event a K9 team mate or an injured dog belonging to the subject of a search needs care.
Can you tell us a bit more about the K9 + SAR program? How do you get the call?
I’m a team member of S.R.D.I (Southwest Rescue Dogs, Inc.) located in Tucson, AZ. We are an all volunteer team of K9 handlers and flanking team members experienced in search and rescue that train with our dogs in the areas of tracking, trailing, human remains, and air scent. We are deployed at the request of Arizona law enforcement any time K9’s are needed to aid in a search. My role is K9 Medical Director and flanking EMT/team member.
Tell us your best/most exciting/most challenging rescue story.
It was April 2013. I can still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I got the call to respond to an avalanche on Sheep Creek drainage up on Loveland Pass in Colorado. A massive slide had buried six people; multiple rescue and EMS agencies were deployed.
I remember arriving on scene and taking in the organized chaos of people, dogs, rescue vehicles, and flashing lights. Giant boulders of snow the size of cars littered the 800 foot wide search area. Depths ranging from five to twelve feet of snow laid in front of us like a wet blanket. The reality that this was a body recovery hung heavy in the air for all of us but for none more so than the sole survivor of the slide.
The sound of snow crunching under hurried feet, the yips and barks of the search dogs, the squawk of radios and the methodical punching of avalanche probes and shovels through deep, heavy, snow created a chilling soundscape. All of us moved with a resolve to find every person that was lost that day and we did.
I vividly remember the search dogs barking when they caught scent of one of the buried victims. The dogs were pivotal that day. After digging through what felt like wet cement, my shovel hit the edge of a ski. We had tunneled down through eleven feet of snow at that point. It was a somber and sobering experience. I’ll never shake the memory of that day.
That is a very sobering experience. For more of an every day experience, can you give us a rundown of the three most common trail rescues and how can pet parents be prepared?
Sure! This answer will vary slightly depending on location but in general, the most common issues I’ve encountered when it comes to dogs injured out on a trail are paw injuries, heat related emergencies, and dehydration.
The other two relevant issues are one, the challenge of big dogs that need to be carried out due to an injury, and two, pet parents that are unprepared to recognize an emergency and provide any first aid their dog might need.
Regardless of the injury or illness, step one of preparedness is getting trained in dog first aid. Step two is practicing with your dog often. Step three is having a solid plan. All dog first aid training is not created equal, however, especially if you and your dog like to head out on trails that leave you miles or even days away from veterinary care, so do your research and choose wisely.
One of the first things I teach pet parents is the R.E.A.D.I principle. R.E.A.D.I stands for Route, Emergency Contacts, Equipment, Accessibility, Departure and Implementation. Each of these is a crucial component of a sound plan that helps pet parents enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly with their dog. In regard to the most common medical issues I just mentioned, let's talk about the implementation piece; are you capable of assessing an emergency, responding appropriately with first aid, and could you carry them out if you had to?
Having a first aid kit is great, but if you don't know how to actually use it in the event your dog has a medical issue, it's nothing more than a false sense of security riding around in your backpack.
At a minimum, every pet parent should know their dog’s limits and know their dog's “normals" (vital signs, lumps, bumps, etc.) so something abnormal is more readily recognized.
Carrying the 10 essentials (which includes a first aid kit with dog appropriate supplies), packing the right amount of food and water for both of you and knowing what, how and when to use OTC meds that are safe for your dog is another important aspect of being prepared.
For those hiking with dogs 25 pounds and larger, having a plan for carrying them out safely is a big consideration that shouldn't be overlooked. A product like the FidoPro Air Sling is a must in my opinion which is why every dog handler on the K9 SAR team carries one in their pack. If that won't work for you and your dog, make sure you have an emergency plan in place so you hopefully don't have to leave your dog tied to a tree or on top of a ridge while you go look for help. I've seen that happen more times than I care to count.
Super simple things like hiking in the early morning or early evening can help prevent heat related emergencies and paw pad burns. Build your dog’s stamina for longer hikes gradually and keep them hydrated. Practice the bandaging applications you have learned before you set out on your adventure rather than waiting until you're in the middle of the woods with a real emergency on your hands.
Not many get excited about first aid training or planning ahead for emergencies until they find themselves in a situation in which they feel absolutely helpless. Your dog relies on you to keep them safe so, be the person they think you are and get trained by a reputable, knowledgeable and experienced professional. The best case scenario is that you’ll never have to use it but you’ll be confident that you could if you had to.
Do you have your own dogs? Tell us about them!
I have two rescue pups from the shelter where I work. Little Bit is a two year old wheelie dog that was dumped at the shelter paralyzed in her hind legs but it doesn’t slow her down one bit. Her nickname is FoMo because she absolutely doesn’t miss a thing! She loves going camping, hiking and is always down for an exciting road trip.
Then there’s Finn. She’s a 7 year old terrier mix that was rescued from an awful hoarding case with forty other dogs. She’s the sweetest little girl but is super shy and doesn’t share Little Bit’s enthusiasm for “all the things”. Her nickname is “Oh No” [Laughs]. She’ll go on all the hikes and camping trips as long as she gets carried in her special backpack high off the ground from anyone and anything that she doesn’t know. She’s getting a little bit braver every year but for now, The FoMo and OhNo duo run the show.
This is my favorite story to tell because there’s so many layers and serendipitous moments that brought me to this very moment talking to you. I’ll keep it brief and high level for everyone’s sake but the origin story dates all the way back to 2008.
I was living in Florida at the time and on New Year’s Eve, I witnessed a dog get hit by a car and left for dead on the side of the road. I called 911 but quickly learned that it was up to me to get this poor dog the help he needed. Luckily, he ended up making a full recovery and was reunited with his family but my life was forever changed that night.
It didn’t sit well with me that there wasn’t a resource for injured animals found in similar situations. So, with zero veterinary experience, I set out to create a non-profit animal ambulance. I found every resource available that could teach me basic animal anatomy and first aid, spoke with every veterinarian that was willing to listen, and started responding to calls for injured stray animals; even wildlife on occasion.
I absolutely was not the kid that grew up dreaming of becoming a vet so this was markedly out of my wheel house. It was a wildly unsustainable venture and one that ultimately ended after two years of community service but it put me on the path that I’m still on today.
I ended up moving to Colorado with my four dogs at the time - Boo, Sadie, Charlie and Ziggy, all of whom came into my life as a result of the ambulance service. I always called them my north, south, east and west because they truly were my guideposts and there wasn’t anywhere I went without them. It was just me and my dogs moving through the world on our own having some pretty far fetched adventures, especially considering that Charlie was a wheelie dog going places that mobility challenged dogs didn’t typically go.
Once I moved to Colorado, I got involved with search and rescue, became an EMT and had the privilege of working alongside some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met in some extremely humbling and sobering circumstances.
There were numerous occasions where I encountered a pet parent out on the trail with an injured dog with no idea how to apply basic dog first aid, or worse, no way to carry them out to get them to a vet. I found myself teaching these skills on the fly to panicked dog owners while I was bandaging up their dog’s paw and helping them get back to the trail head, so they could get to a veterinary hospital.
So, in essence, Far Fetched Adventures was unknowingly created on the backroads and trails of Colorado, California and eventually Arizona. Those four dogs have since crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but not before they made sure that I was standing on the doorstep of veterinary school. They knew what I was put here to do before I did and there isn’t a single day that goes by without me thanking them.
Now, Far Fetched Adventures provides an in-depth online K9 First Responder course that teaches pet parents how to be their dog’s first responder while they’re out on adventures and plans for in-person classes are underway. A portion of all sales benefits my non-profit, Far Fetched Charities so that even more animals can be helped.
That brings us to our next question about Far Fetched Charities. Tell us more about the current programs, and what your ultimate goal is with your charity work.
Far Fetched Charities is the non-profit, sister organization of FFA and I’m SO excited about this next chapter in the Far Fetched story. Everyday, I witness countless dogs and cats come in to the shelter scared, confused, heartbroken and often injured or sick. It’s gut wrenching work but it’s what drives me everyday to do whatever I can to ease their pain, help them recover, and help them find their forever family. Right now, there are three specific programs that Far Fetched Charities is focusing on:
Dog Day Out
One of the programs we’ll be launching in the next couple of months is a nationwide initiative to inspire people to take a dog out of the shelter for a hiking or camping adventure break. A lot of shelters have programs that allow you to take a dog out for a day trip or even an overnight "pawjama party" because it’s proven to help alleviate shelter related stress and it often helps them get adopted because it allows the dog’s true personality to shine.
This initiative is particularly aimed at dogs that have been in a shelter setting for three months or longer that are still waiting for their forever family. Whether it’s out on a trail or even a local park, getting a dog out in the fresh air and away from all the noise where they can finally relax can be life changing not only for the dog but the human too. It’s like adventure buddy speed dating but way better in my opinion and the relationship is almost guaranteed to last way longer [Laughs].
K9 Wheelchairs
The second program in the works is just as near and dear to my heart because of my OG wheelie dog, Charlie, and now my second wheelie kiddo, Little Bit. Animals with special needs are incredibly hard to adopt out because they typically require a lot of hands on care and they need someone that has not only the heart but the time to devote to them. But, I can personally attest that being Charlie’s mom changed my life for the better and I lean on the resiliency he taught me every day.
When Charlie got his wings, he ultimately gave me mine through this mission to pursue a life of service to animals. In Charlie’s honor, Far Fetched Charities will provide wheelchairs to special needs adventure pups that just need a little extra help hitting the trails with their family.
Veterinary Care
And finally, addressing access to veterinary care is the cornerstone of Far Fetched Charities.
Through mobile outreach events, (think M.A.S.H.) we’ll bring veterinary medical services to underserved areas in the US and beyond where medical resources are scarce or non-existent. I’m even in the process of pursuing my private pilot’s license for this very reason! It all sounds a little overwhelming and well, a little far fetched, right? [Laughs] ..that’s exactly the point and it hasn’t stopped me yet. I’d quite literally go to the ends of the earth for animals in need and that’s exactly what I intend to do with Far Fetched Charities. Wanna come with?!
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Join Stacey and Far Fetched in making a lasting impact through their emergency rescue work, safety initiatives, injury prevention, and much more for dogs and their owners.
Discover ways to support the cause and access valuable safety tips by visiting https://farfetchedadventures.com/. And don't forget to follow them on Instagram @far_fetched_adventures for the latest updates and insights!
