Our friend Polly

After the terrible events on September 11th 2001 our hearts also went out to over 350 devoted dogs who lent their super human senses to the search and rescue operations. We have recently learned that one of the dogs named 'Polly' was a collie/golden retriever cross.

Polly was an accident. Mom was a Golden Retriever in a yard with an invisible fence. The Border Collie next door didn't know anything about the fence, Doh! Anyway, she had eleven black pups. Polly nearly died due to a milk allergy, so the family took her inside and nursed her along and gave her lots of attention (excellent beginnings for a dog that needs to love and focus on people!) By 8 weeks she was strong and at normal weight and the most curious & determined of the bunch.

Polly has never known anything but search. I started her at 8 weeks and she has loved every minute of it! I'm on the local wilderness team, Ohio Valley Search & Rescue, and the FEMA Task Force out of Indianapolis. We travel 3+ hours to Indiana,16 times a year to train. (At this point Polly doesn't need the training but the requirements are a minimum of 12 trainings) She loves every time we get on the pile, she is the fastest most enthusiastic dog on the FEMA team! I have been told by several FEMA members she is the best disaster dog we have - or that they have seen. I certainly don't take credit for that - she is a natural ! She would be great at any work that was put before her.

We were in agility for 6-10 months and she was taking ribbons and getting legs. We had to quit due to lack of hours in the day and enough weekends in life to do it all.

Among the search and rescue dog teams sent to New York City and Washington following the attacks on September 11th, was a team from Indiana which included Marti and Polly.

Polly worked long dirty tiring hours at ground zero. She loves searching for live victims but is not fond of cadaver. Yet, time and again when I gave the cadaver command she would go to work and I could trust her every time! After we were done we would get off the pile and she'd immediately lay down. I was never sure if she was exhausted or depressed due to the constant smell of death. We played lots of Frisbee and she was ALWAYS ready to play! Infact, ID checks in and out of the command base (away from ground zero) she was known as the Frisbee dog and they rarely checked my ID - they all knew Polly! She carried her Frisbee everywhere I'd let her. Even up and down the escalator.

Polly turned 7 in January 2002. She certified in disaster work at 3 years. Six months later certified at the top FEMA level. We have to certify every 2 years so we are travelling to CA to re-certify on May 19th. She does great - it's me that has to work at passing. We've done this 4 times so I should make it - but I don't want to get over confident - for her or me!

Just as with Decker, Polly has opened opportunities and friendships I never thought possible. Since NYC in September we are often asked to give a talk - I have a 45 minute power point presentation that I have given many times and Polly is always the star. She does a mini search to show how it all works and everyone loves her. She has kids all over her when we get done. She's just such a cool dog, focused and intense when she's working and laid back and cool when she's not. I have a command "Go be a golden" and she goes and lays down. It's great!

I was surprised to learn about www.coltriever.co.uk I'm glad to see others have found the crossbreed to be so great! I'm also thrilled to know the cross is so respected in the U.K.

Marti & Polly

Related external links:
Ohio Valley Search & Rescue

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