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MEMBERS
Park City
In conjunction with Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, Park City Mountain Resort has developed a strong avalanche rescue dog program currently consisting of four "A" level dogs and a candidate dog. The dogs are a mix of resort owned and handler owned dogs, though the trend in recent years has been toward dogs that are owned by the handlers. In the selection of these dogs, the candidate handlers are encouraged to invite participation of the Park City Mountain Resort trainers and more experienced WBR handlers for the selection of their puppies to increase the potential for developing successful search dogs.
The resort has been strongly supportive of the avalanche dog program, recognizing it as not just as important component of Park City Mountain Resort's rescue plan, but as a wider service to the resort community and an especially guest-friendly face on Mountain Patrol's activities. The year-round costs of any operational and emergency level dogs are covered by the resort, as well a budgeting for travel and training as opportunities arise. Additionally this season, the program has begun some outside fund raising in order to increase our participation in programs like the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog School.
All of the Mountain Patrol are invited to participate in training activities, which require site preparation and volunteers for live "victims". Participation in these activities has become the path for newer patrollers to train as secondary handlers for validated dogs and ultimately to acquire and train dogs of their own.
