National Geographic Kids USA - November 2017

SHAKA TAKESA

BREAK FROM

TRAINING AS

MCGURK LOOKS ON.

Shakathegoldenretrieverdigsinthesnow.He’snotpawingthroughthesnowfor

funthough—he’spracticingtosavelives.That’sbecauseShakaispartofSquaw

Dogs,ateamofsearch-and-rescuedogsattheSquawValleyskiresort.Theani-

malsassisttheirhumanhandlerswithfindinglostskiersafteravalanches.

Shaka’shandler,skipatrollerIvanMcGurk,saysthatthoughhumanscanuse

theireyestolookforinjuredskiersaboveground,theyneedhelptofindpeople

underthesnow.“Shaka’strainedtosearchforhumansusinghisnose,”McGurk

says.“IneedhissenseofsmelltotrackdownwhatIcan’tsee.”

WhenShaka’snotworking,he’swithhisbestfriend,KayatheBelgianMalinois,

anotherSquawDog.Andwhentheyplaysomethingcalled“flyingsquirrel,”look

out!“ShakarunsatKayaandleapsonher!”saysBenStone,Kaya’shandler.

Hesaveslivesandhecanfly?Someonegetthisdogacape. —Sara Schwartz

UE

lifornia

RESCUE

G

SKI PATROLLER IVAN

MCGURK TRAINS SHAKA

THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER

TO FIND LOST SKIERS

AFTER AVALANCHES.

10 NOVEMBER 2017

have no fear,

superdog is

here!