琉璃神社鈥檚 Studio 9 School of the Arts students met a local hero on Friday morning (April 23).

Chase, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue鈥檚 (COSAR), furry team member, visited the students with his handler Terry Downs.

After Chase鈥檚 first rescue made the headlines, the students made him cards to thank him for his efforts. Studio 9 principal Cadence Trites then invited Downs and Chase to the school to present them with gifts of appreciation.

鈥淐OSAR members, I鈥檓 so in awe of them,鈥� she said.

鈥淭heir dedication, the time they put in鈥� it鈥檚 gruelling. -30 C temperatures don鈥檛 stop them. It鈥檚 pouring rain, it doesn鈥檛 stop them. I really appreciate that there are people out there with such big hearts and such amazing training and skills that are out there helping others.鈥�

Trites, whose husband is a member of COSAR, said she wanted to invite Chase to the school as an interactive educational moment for her students. She also wanted to highlight the work search and rescue teams do.

鈥淚 thought it would be really great for the kids to know about him and recognize that people in the community do things like volunteering and especially with a dog, it just touches everybody鈥檚 hearts.鈥�

鈥淐OSAR members, they miss birthday parties, they miss gatherings, they have to leave at the drop of a hat. But I鈥檓 willing to give up time with my husband so he can help others who need him,鈥� she said.

On Friday, students gave Chase treats and were able to learn about the intensive training Downs has done with the pup, so he can be helpful to the community.

Downs said Chase is her first search dog, having worked with and trained canines for 25 years. She said she鈥檚 had other work dogs, including drug-sniffing ones.

She said Chase鈥檚 success isn鈥檛 lost on her or her colleagues.

鈥淚 had a peer contact me and she said 鈥榶ou know how rare this is? I waited ten years before my dog found anyone鈥�,鈥� she said.

鈥淥bviously, I feel very blessed and fortunate and whether it took one time or a hundred times, the point is we鈥檙e here to help the team and help the community. Ultimately, that鈥檚 what鈥檚 most important.鈥�

If you want to follow Chase鈥檚 adventures and what he does when he鈥檚 at work, visit his .

READ MORE: 鈥楥hase the Wonder Dog鈥� saves missing 琉璃神社 senior who wandered from hospital

twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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