Today marks the fourteenth birthday of Kris Crawford’s Pit Bull companion, Dakota, who has served as a Search and Rescue dog along alongside of Kris in over 200 search missions.
Selected by NASA for rescue efforts such as the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle, Dakota was one of the first Pit Bulls to be certified in Search and Rescue, (SAR) and remains one of the most respected.
Dakota was given mention for her efforts in the book “A Deadly Game” by the author, a former judge, after catching scents during a SAR mission to find Laci Peterson. Murder cases, kidnappings, and disasters, Dakota has seen them all.
If any dog has paved the modern day way for Pit Bulls across the nation to gain respect in this field, it is Dakota. Since her certification, other teams have enlisted the help of Pit Bulls shore to shore and their undying effort, unmatchable endurance and will to persevere, make them a perfect match for the challenging tasks that a SAR canine faces with every mission.
Being a lover of the little ones, Dakota has also provided encouragement and hope to children who have been abused, are mentally challenged, and have health and/or physical restrictions. She is a true healer. In the words of her owner,
"I’ve witnessed some incredibly special moments between Dakota and an abused child. Sometimes moments like these are the last hope for kids who have come to see abuse, failure and discouragement as a way of life. Dakota gives love so openly that for many of these children it is a unique and lasting experience”.
With eternal gratitude for your heroic work and dedication to us humans, from across the United States, we wish you a very Happy Birthday.
For more information about Dakota and her efforts, visit www.forpitssake.org.
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