Bear Search and Rescue needs your help
Three years ago this week I met Capt. Scott Shields and Bear, his Golden Retriever, at the Flight Across America ceremony in NYC. They had been the first animal rescue team on scene at Ground Zero, and had spent six months working in that hell hole, assisting first in the rescue efforts, and then in recovery. Bear had sustained a severe injury doing the recovery work, and when I met them, he was frail, sick, and seemed very tired. A few weeks later, Bear passed away.
Scott channeled his grief into the Bear Search and Rescue Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that funds training and equipment for search and rescue teams across the country. Today I received this letter from Scott:
September 3, 2005
Dear Friends:
The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation www.bearsearchandrescue.org (one
of the country's leading non-governmental funders of Search & Rescue
Teams) is deploying to Louisiana a team made up of New York Search and
Rescue, Aviation Fire Department, Wisconsin‘s People & Paws Search & Rescue, Metro New York Search
& Rescue, Wisconsin Technical Rescue Team, Michigan Tech Rescue, Battery
Park Emergency Response Team under General Sidney Baumgarten, and many
others. This
mission is under direct orders from Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.
Zodiac Boats of North America has offered 22 boats and their personnel to
the next team we deploy. Maritimes
Solutions of Freeport, NY has already donated 6 boats. Hills Science Diet has offered any of their
products that we require.
We ask for
your support. We expect that this
operation will fully deplete the Foundation’s resources. Fuel alone at this time will cost an astronomical
amount. Whatever you can do to assist
will be appreciated, especially making cash and/or equipment donations.
Training in marine rescue has become of primary importance and we would
ask for any volunteers to be water trained in small boat rescue. As of this time we have been told that the
team’s primary function will be as small boat rescue crews with building
extrication.
We have promised
to make Bear’s legend a legacy for all who serve so that others may live; we
will keep this promise.
Capt Scott Shields, President
Bear Search & Rescue
Foundation
“Bearsdad”
Right now there are hundreds of charities asking for financial help to assist the people of the devastated Gulf Coast, and the need is tremendous. If your heart calls you to give to an organization that's on the ground helping in a tangible way, I know that Scott and his volunteer search and rescue teams would be most grateful.
Thanks!
More ways to give:
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