On Saturday, July 26, 2008, at the Tygart Lake State Park Marina Launch, LaSAR Tech III Higgins gave tempered instruction during her search and rescue seminar. Higgins critiqued a number of handlers and their liege while they were indoctrinated into search and rescue techniques in a body of water. These servants, regardless where they call home, are faithful to our communities and people in our unfortunate times of need. They are strictly business. The rapport between handler and scent expert is awe-inspiring. Neither gives up; they just never give up.

Local K-9 trainers/handlers Pam Bennett and Becky Stanevich represented the West Virginia Disaster Dog Association at Tygart Lake State Park on Saturday. The group hosted Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Staff Sergeant (ret.) and reserve officer Lisa Higgins, above right.

Higgins, who has been involved with law enforcement since 1982 now works with both mounted and K-9 search and rescue units as co-founder/co-trainer of the Louisiana Search and Rescue Dog Team (LaSAR). She devotes well over 1000 volunteer hours yearly.

Handlers and K-9s came from as far as Michigan and Ohio to participate in this seminar. Each participant was a careful student, attempting to absorb Higgins’ quiet gifts of knowledge. She was supportive and eager to help in each instance, lavishing a ready display of enthusiastic praise to each team member.