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January 2024 Water Human Remains Detection Seminar with Lisa Higgins

Fri, Jan 12

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1294 Industrial Park Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168, USA

Lisa Higgins will be teaching a beginner/intermediate water HRD class in Volusia County, Florida from January 12th - 14th. Working spots filled, only observation spots available. Click RSVP to register. Contact host to volunteer.

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January 2024 Water Human Remains Detection Seminar with Lisa Higgins
January 2024 Water Human Remains Detection Seminar with Lisa Higgins

Time & Location

Jan 12, 2024, 9:00 AM – Jan 14, 2024, 1:00 PM

1294 Industrial Park Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168, USA

About the event

****Class is non-refundable EXCEPT in the case that the class is cancelled/postponed if Ms. Higgins has a last minute family emergency. Lisa's mom is in hospice so if an emergency were to arise, and she would need to cancel or leave early, registration would be refunded in that situation.****

Lisa Higgins will be teaching a beginner/intermediate water HRD class in Volusia County, Florida from January 12th - 14th.

Class will be limited to 10 working spots ($300) and 5 observation spots ($150), 1 K9 per handler, no 2nd K9s for this class. Prices increase on December 15th (12/15/23) by $100, so working spots will be $400, and observation spots $250. All fees are non-refundable****.

K9s must already be imprinted on odor, have a solid alert/TFR, and have a strong reward system in place. You will need to have a PFD for you which will be required, and if you would like for your dog, which will not be required. If your dog jumps, falls or ends up in the water off the boat, you will need to be able to recover it quickly. Gators are not known to frequent the area we will be working, but it's Florida, so plan on it and for it. The water will be brackish for both the canal/shoreline problems as well as the lake, so bring shampoo and towels if you'll want to rinse or wash your dog after, there are working hoses and bathrooms on site. Please bring hat, sunscreen, appropriate boat/search shoes, a chair to sit down for briefings and group time. Be prepared to keep your dog comfortable depending on the temps, it could be hot, cold or just right. Don't forget your "duty" bags to keep the property clean, and any other reward equipment, leashes and collars needed. We will have potable water to keep everyone hydrated, lunch will be provided Friday & Saturday. Since there can be more down time on water search training, there will be additional problems set up around the property you'll be able to run while waiting your turn, as well as shoreline problems and additional boats for acclimation.

Dogs with aggression towards other dogs or humans are not permitted, and may be asked to leave the seminar if any issues arise. Dogs must remain leashed at all times except when working.

Lisa Higgins Bio

Lisa Higgins has devoted herself to helping local, state and federal agencies dealing with searches for missing persons, lost hunters, homicides and article searches for murder weapons. She has responded to hundreds of searches in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri and Vancouver, British Columbia with her canines through the years.

Lisa has been in law enforcement since 1978. She started with Pearl River P.D. as a mounted officer and has completed her thirty year run with St. Tammany Sheriff's Office mounted as well as SAR canine. She was in the Special Operations Division from 1991 through 2008.

Higgins is co-founder of LaSAR, is a certified NASAR SARTECH II, a Canine SAR Tech III, is a member of NSDA, and a member of NNCDS, serving on the advisory board. Lisa was the first to come up with the idea of having a canine search and rescue team in the state of Louisiana. In 1989, she brought a group of people together to discuss pursuing this idea. After that meeting she and her daughter Troi-Marie were the only two that moved forward to help form the first search and rescue dog team in the State of Louisiana, LaSAR. Lisa qualified as a "Subject Matter Expert" in canine body recovery in New Orleans Criminal Courts.

Higgins is a member of the Federal DMORT Region VI Team, Louisiana and Texas State Mass Fatalities Taskforce. Higgins serves as a civilian contractor with the FBI on the Victim Recovery Team. She has co-authored several articles and a book chapter on water search and recovery.

Lisa is known for her kind, caring and generous spirit as an instructor and mentor to so many in the search and rescue community. She's taught us how to be patient and how to understand "Dog time."

For any questions regarding the seminar please contact Amy Couts with 421 K9 SAR at amy@421k9sar.org or (407) 504-7003

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