K9 TEAM OBI NEEDS OUR HELP!

Sometimes, a dog is so much more than a pet. This is the story of a very special hero dog.

Hello, I’m Tina and I'd like to introduce you to a remarkable dog and handler who could use our help. This dog, Obi, and his owner/handler, Heather, are very dear to me. In 2015, Heather and I spied the same Facebook post for an animal rescue in Park Falls, Wisconsin. There were four adorable Border Collie puppies staring at us from the screen.

We each had our eye on different puppies and proceeded through the adoption process. Heather/Obi, myself/Pippa (my rescue), and Wendy/Stella (another rescue) all became friends and kept in touch, even getting the pup siblings together when possible.

The three of us knew our dogs were special. Still, Heather recognized something extra special in Obi and had BIG aspirations for him. Heather's goal for Obi was for him to become a certified Search and Rescue dog. He has excelled under her guidance; I think he surprised her! (See the video for a quick summary of their journey). They joined a local search and rescue team and have been active members for almost 8 years. Through that time, Heather and Obi have traveled across the country to train for this mission, going as far south as Texas and west as Idaho.

When you or a loved one is lost/missing, one of the most efficient means of locating is to bring out a search and rescue team. Obi specializes in cadaver search on land and in water. The recoveries Obi has assisted with are not joyous but critical in investigating missing person cases and even bringing peace and closure to families.

Not only do Obi and Heather volunteer to do this work, but they are also advocates for K9 SAR. The work Obi and Heather have done inspired Heathers master’s work, where she identified training issues in search dog disciplines. This led her to work with State Representative Beth Meyers and Chanz Green to author a bill to create a pathway for those training cadaver dogs to access training material. This bill is currently waiting for passage in the Wisconsin House and Senate as of fall 2023. Due to this continued dedication and for their hard work taking Obi from a rescued puppy to a rescuer, Representative Beth Meyers awarded Heather and Obi the Wisconsin Hometown Hero award in 2022. In addition, Heather's next state bill works toward equality in access to transportation, hotels, and other public areas for K9 SAR teams and turn her efforts to Ph.D. work in historical sacred site recoveries.

As you see, this is a team who is ready and willing to help!

Unfortunately, Obi is currently sidelined. On September 14, the day after he was in a Wi State House committee representing SAR for the bill Heather has been working on, he suffered a mesenteric torsion (twisting) of his intestines. One minute, he was eating dinner, and the next, he was in a grave situation. Mesenteric torsion is an uncommon condition associated with a high dog mortality rate.

Obi was rushed into high-risk surgery--odds of survival are around 10%. The vet saved him twice, as she had to revive him during surgery. After he was stabilized, he was taken to Duluth, MN, for monitoring. He was then released to his home and is currently in the long and complex recovery phase, which includes follow-ups, medications, and rebuilding his stamina.

In his typical fashion, Obi defied the odds and is doing remarkably well. He is the epitome of a "can-do" spirit!

In search and rescue, most teams are volunteers. They must pay for their own expenses including gear, training and everything they need for their dogs out of their pockets. They get no reimbursement for the work they do. Heather has worked two or more jobs for years to ensure she and Obi are outfitted and trained for the conditions that the northern Wisconsin environment demands of a first responder. Throughout Obi's life, Heather has footed the bill for her education, training across the country, and searches across a tri-state area. She volunteers for search community appearances with Obi, advocating for Search and Rescue and helping others train to become their best. Heather has always made sure she’s had a budget to help her in the case of an emergency with Obi; this emergency, however, was way beyond what her budget was able to take on.

Heather is truly a selfless individual, and this fundraiser is a means to give a little something back and help her cover some of Obi's surgical expenses.

She will do all she can to get Obi back to serve the community; let's do what we can to support her efforts for this amazing dog.

My/our greatest appreciation for you joining Team Obi through your donation and/or spreading this campaign! Thank you.