On August 18, 2023, SDF-trained canine search teams Brian Girard & Keila and Brook Rowley & Echo (New York Task Force 2) responded to a report of two hikers lost in the Catskill Mountains.
The two missing men, ages 18 and 20, were part of a group of 16 hikers and four counselors from a camp in South Fallsburg, NY. The missing hikers, who both have autism, were separated from their group on Thursday afternoon, prompting an extensive search through mountainous terrain. The canine search teams joined dozens of state police, park rangers, volunteers, and members of the Orthodox Jewish community in the search for the missing men in less-than-ideal weather conditions.
Retired handler, Greg Gould, who was supervising the canine search, reported it had rained hard the day before, and they began their search at around 10 pm on Thursday night. Slippery, wet ground and dense fog made the search conditions tough and forced them to keep the dogs on leashes at times for safety.
The canine portion of the search was called off at 5:30 am because of an incoming thunderstorm, but the men were spotted by other search personnel and brought to safety, suffering only minor injuries.
Greg Gould shared, “The two canines and the handlers and spotters worked a very difficult search last night. It was extremely foggy, and the terrain was extremely difficult and slippery. They performed well above what was asked of them and conditions were anything but normal.”
New York Task Force 2 remains one of our roster’s busiest agencies. This is the eleventh deployment for Brook Rowley & Echo since 2019, including seven missing person searches, one structure collapse, and three hurricanes. Brian Girard & Keila have deployed a whopping 21 times since 2017, including thirteen missing persons, three structure collapses, one flood, and four hurricanes.
We are incredibly proud of these teams for their history of service and their consistent readiness to assist communities in need!