Searching
for a missing person (23th of January 2004
- Plesivica)
Like the last time,
call was from Mountain Rescue Service (MRS)
"Zagreb".
The missing was lost to side a few days
before the action under assumption that
he is lifeless. Aggravating circumstance
has been an ample snowfall the night after
his missing...
The gathering was arranged at 7 in the morning
in front of the Club. Our team was (in alphabetical
order): Ana Viller & labrador retriever
Ori, Branko Maretic & labrador retriever
Abba, Bruna Kukec & border collie Gel,
Jasna Kovacic & german shepherd Ella,
Mirela Bosnar & border collie Gunna,
Petra Covic & golden retriever Koni,
Sara Marekovic & border collie Cap,
Tanja Janes & croatian shepherd Miska,
Tibor Lugar & golden retriever Mav and
Tomislav Zdencar and Daria Jaksic without
their dogs.
Just that morning, temperature was pretty
low, even -9 degrees centigrade from the
winter beggining. Soon, we moved to a Jastrebarsko
Police station where we made an appointment
with the police, MRS "Zagreb"
and MRS from the City of Karlovac. Karlovacs
MRS was searching the day before without
result. After meeting in Police station
and short car drive, we went to first search
point to which it was about 15 minutes of
climbing. The walk of MRS "Zagreb"
was very soft and trained so, they earned
new respect from us. And what about us?
Well... we tried do not hold their to much
:-) The arrival to the first point was the
moment of search beggining. We agreed the
following: we'll search like shooters; beside
left and right side of every dog will be
one MRS member. Shooter combination is combination
of people lined up horizontally and space
between them depends by agreement. Everyone
watch to his left companion who is always
at his sight and everyone has a same walk
speed. Searching area wasn't easy at all:
snow drift which was from 20 to 30cm wasn't
slackened our speed so much as terrain which
was very sheer at some points and frozen
in spots. Most searching period was in holly
dense, awkwardly for dogs as it was for
people: the snow was shruged it to the ground
so at some places we walked half meter over
the ground and the next moment we were softly
grounded in the, not so softly, holly dense.
Then, we would try to find the way out.
And for hours like that... After few hours,
we took a break. Searching lasted till 15:30
and contained a huge area. We were very
pleasent surprised by our dogs: almost every
dog was very active all the time which indicate
excellent physical and working condition
of them. At holly dense places, it was easier
to some of the smaller breeds then the bigger
one: some of the bigger dogs had a lot of
brambles in their bodies. In spite of everyones
efforts, the missing wasn't found.
Since every event in life always has some
new comprehension, so do we. We have been
enriched for a new experiences which will
help in other actions, next time maybe with
happier end. Without regard of the result,
once more we lived to see that we can count
upon our faithfull dog companions in all
circumstances. Peaceful dream at the back
seat of our cars in return to Zagreb and
warm, constant breath showed us once more
that we do it a good way.
