Honorary promotion for K-9 partner of 917th Airman

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs Office
Barksdale AFB. La. --  Ginny, a bloodhound trained for Search and Rescue, was rewarded with an honorary promotion to the Civil Air Patrol rank of 2nd Lt., right alongside her handler Master Sgt. Danny Fischer, 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, armament shop, in a ceremony at the Barksdale Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol Headquarters office June 6, 2009.

But, the ceremony almost didn't happen due to surgery for a ruptured disk in Ginny's back.

"I think that's just amazing. We wanted to show our appreciation, our admiration to Ginny for the recovery and everything she does. We are going to make her an honorary member to our squadron and she's getting a promotion tonight," said Capt. Victor Santana, Barksdale Composite Squadron C.A.P. "This is proof it takes a team to get the job done, whether it's human or not."

Sergeant Fischer also spoke about Ginny and what she had overcome to be there that evening.

"She has a heart of gold and it's big as all outdoors. The entire team is just as proud as can be of her," Sergeant Fischer said.

Looking back, the future was bright for Ginny when she became part of the Fischer family as a puppy, and they had plans for the young bloodhound.

"She was in training at 8-weeks-old, running puppy trails at the house," said Sergeant Fischer.
Bloodhounds are shy by nature and at the age of four months, Maureen Kidd, a professional dog trainer, was called in to help socialize Ginny.

"I'm a therapy dog handler. That's my profession. Training Bloodhounds is my passion," said Kidd. "I brought Dan and Ginny into a nursing home and got them used to wheel chairs, walkers and canes, and many, many, many people."

"It's very exciting. It's a mystery about what scents are out there and how the dog chooses the scent we give her to find and how she works out the details of the water, the wind and the moisture in the air and the terrain. It's fun - very fun," she said.

During a seminar in Georgia when she was only 5-months-old, a trainer saw potential in both Ginny and Sergeant Fischer, and they were accepted as members of the Shreveport Fire Department K-9 Search and Rescue Task Force.

Ginny's training continued and Kidd continued to assist with coordinating training locations, sessions of hide and seek and finding the participants for those training sessions.

Then, the unthinkable happened.

"(Ginny) suffered an injury. We don't know where - don't know how, but she started screaming in pain anytime she accelerated or went up an incline. I took her to my local vet, and she referred us to a specialist in Dallas," Sergeant Fischer said. "He diagnosed through MRI that (Ginny) had a ruptured disk in her back."

"The doctor gave us three options. We could try surgery, with no guarantees, retirement to "pet-status" and hope for the best, or have her put down. The situation was dire - didn't get any worse than that," said Stephanie Fischer, Dan's wife who is also a Reservist at the 917th Wing at Barksdale AFB.

The operation for Ginny would cost 4000 dollars.

"We didn't even discuss it - it was automatic," said Sergeant Fischer.

The operation was performed December 2, 2008. According to the Fischer's, the doctor said Ginny's recovery would take about 10 weeks. He was wrong. As late as April 15, the consideration for putting her down was a real possibility. Ginny's recovery was not going well.

A new bloodhound, "Brinklie" was brought into the family, just in case.

No one knows why, but soon after Brinklie, whose legal name is "Brink of Madness" arrived, Ginny started making a remarkable recovery.

"From surgery time, it was almost five months of recovery before (Ginny) could work again," said Sergeant Fischer. "Now, she's back to a full 100 percent - zero pain - rocking and rolling."

"Since her recovery, (Ginny) has passed her certification with U.S. Mantrailing Association, which means we actually look like we know what we're doing. Training's ongoing of course," the Sergeant said.

Now, Sergeant Fischer is running two bloodhounds - something he says, he said, he would never do.

It's said that all things happen for a reason. Sergeant Fischer is just looking forward to Ginny's second birthday next month and the future good that both of his bloodhounds can bring to the community while volunteering as part of the Shreveport Fire Department K-9 Search and Rescue Task Force.

"The relationship between Civil Air Patrol and the Shreveport Fire Department K-9 Search and Rescue - we have a lot to offer one another. The possibilities are endless of what we can accomplish together as opposed to apart," Sergeant Fischer said. "You have people, we have dogs - it's just a fantastic opportunity to learn from one another."