Sundance Ski Resort has added a brand new four-legged buddy to its ski patrol staff. (Photo: KUTV)
SUNDANCE, Utah (KUTV) —
Sundance Ski Resort has added a brand new four-legged buddy to its ski patrol staff. Her title is Ida and he or she is greater than only a cute lab puppy — she is an avalanche rescue canine in coaching also called avy canine.
“It’s amazing, once these dogs catch the scent it takes them a matter of minutes to locate someone,” mentioned Tracy Christensen, the assistant ski patrol director at Sundance Ski Resort.
Minutes to the rescue, however years within the making, mentioned Tracy Christensen, who has spent 19 seasons with the avy rescue dogs at Sundance.
“We bring them in as puppies and the minimum certification is 18 months,” she said.
Ida is just beginning that process.
“This is the 2nd time we introduced her to this. It’s an important day with this pup,” Christensen said.
Jagger has been with Sundance Ski Patrol for nine years. During avalanche season, he along with other avy dogs can be called upon at least 10-15 times in the Wasatch front. But the hard work doesn’t cease when the snow melts.
“Just because they are avy dogs doesn’t mean they get the summer off,” Christensen said. “They work, we train.”
Our KUTV crew put the avy dogs to the take a look at and looked for 2Nesws reporter Kristen Kenney.
“Wow, you get a way of how highly effective they’re, he pulled me proper out of there,” she mentioned.
“If you come again this winter in winter coaching,” Christensen mentioned, “you’ll understand how particular these dogs actually are.”
