Search dog can’t be found

Steve Dougan has found himself in a situation he never thought he would be in: His search dog is missing.

For the past several days, Dougan has been making frantic phone calls, his wife has been posting flyers and they’ve been sitting around waiting for news on their missing family member - Luca, a 7-year-old German shepherd.

Luca’s not just any dog, though. She works on the Osage Beach (Mo.) Fire Protection District’s Search and Rescue Team. She’s trained to find those who are lost.

And now she is lost.

Luca isn’t in the habit of running away or chasing after things, and she is familiar with the woods, Dougan said.

“She normally sticks close to you, to the house,” Dougan said. “She’s so nice and friendly, she’ll walk right up to anybody.”

Dougan hopes it was Luca’s friendly demeanor that prompted someone to take her home for safe-keeping - he doesn’t want to think about a worst-case situation.

Until she’s found, the Search and Rescue Team is without its main dog. Several dogs are close to being tested and joining the team, but that’s still months away, Dougan said.

“We’ll use them if we have to, but there’s a process you have to go through. Everybody has to be comfortable with what the job and goals are when you’re out there looking for someone,” Dougan said.

Luca’s first search more than five years ago was for an Alzheimer’s patient. It ended on a high note after Luca found the person.

“She’s good at what she does,” Dougan said, noting the numerous searches Luca has been called on, many of them ending in finds.

Unfortunately, the other trained dogs are little help finding Luca. Dougan said the dogs are trained to track down human scents, not other dogs.

Lake Sun Leader