The King County Sheriff’s Office rescues a number of residents – including some four-legged residents – stranded in rising waters.
Thanks to legislation introduced by King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn, the generosity of county resident Barbara Kajiya, and the unanimous approval of the County Council, the Sheriff’s Office is the owner of a 2006 Achilles inflatable boat and compatible trailer ready to be used for marine rescues.
“This donated boat will allow our Sheriff’s Marine Unit to greatly expand their search and rescue capability.” said Dunn, prime sponsor of the legislation, in a media release. “Thank you to Ms. Barbara Kajiya for her generosity and to my colleagues on the King County Council for approving this legislation.
For a number of years, Kajiya has been seeking to donate the boat to an organization that could use the craft for animal rescues. After Kajiya connected with the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, that has personnel trained in technical animal rescue, Dunn worked with King County Sheriff John Urquhart to write legislation accepting the donation.
“The Marine Unit does tremendous work on the waterways of King County,” said Urquhart. “We are very appreciative of this donation that will only add to our ability to serve.”
A few years ago during a large flood event in around the Skykomish River, quickly rising waters left an elderly woman with medical issues and her pet dog stranded. The woman needed assurance that her pet dog could be transported safely before she agreed to evacuate. Thanks to the equipment and training of the Marine Rescue Dive Unit, both the woman and her dog were able to be safely rescued.
Animal rescues can range from saving domestic dogs and cats to agricultural horses, cows, swine, and fowl. Rescuers have specialized knowledge for handling animals stranded in water, including animal behavior during rescue, basic for aid for animals, and how to extricate, and safely transport, animals.
The donated boat can also be used for human rescue, diver support, and as a platform for the King County Search and Rescue team. Search dogs and handlers can use the boat’s stable floor while the dogs have their heads on the soft inflatable side sniffing for missing persons in the water, reducing injuries and fatigue to the search dogs and making marine rescues more effective.
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