Somers - September, 2019
Featured in the Journal Inquirer
Many thanks to the Journal Inquirer for telling the story of the work we do for the community.
click for full article and more photos
Mystic - August, 2018
Water Search Training and Demonstration with Woodstock Dive Team
Many thanks to The Day of New London for highlighting our efforts training with the Woodstock dive team.
click for full article
Windsor - July, 2018
Advanced Water Search Training
CCSAR's Annual Invitational Water Seminar provided excellent training to all participants.
Suffield - April, 2018
CCSAR Members Recognized for Service
CCSAR, Manchester CERT, and Manchester Mountain Bike Search Team members all responded to a search assistance call in Suffield in September of 2017.
A missing person was located and the members above, Bree Berner, Marilyn Rice, and Marian Beland, as well as partners Sapphire and Ted, were presented with a "Hero Award" from Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, whose members also played a major role in this effective rescue.
The team was further recognized at the State Capitol; click for full story
Windsor - July, 2017
Advanced Search Training
CCSAR's Invitational Water Seminar provided excellent training to all participants.
East Windsor - June, 2017
Advanced Search Training
Ted works a more delicate problem amid the full fauna of summertime.
Windsor - May, 2017
Water Search Training
Summer is learning to work from various boats.
Windsor - May, 2017
Water Search Training
Diamond is enthusiastic about her work.
Windsor - May, 2017
Water Search Training
Team members were able to take advantage of professional training with Matthew Zarrella, American Patriot K9 Training. Congratulations to Team Ted who has added Water Search certification to their skills.
Windsor - May, 2017
Water Search Training
Congratulations also to Team Eres who is now certified for Water Search.
Rhode Island - April, 2017
Advanced Training
Certain team members were able to take advantage of professional training with Matthew Zarrella, American Patriot K9 Training. We were also lucky to be photographed by professional photographer Sarah Gentry. Photo published with permission.
Consider Supporting CCSAR
- no cost to you -
Visit Smile.Amazon.com and seek “Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue.” Thank you!
Manchester - September, 2016
9/11 Ceremony
Manchester Fire Department, CERT, and CCSAR re-dedicated this beautiful memorial to past team K9 member Turk.
Woodstock - August, 2016
Water Work
The West Woodstock Dive Team again supported training our K9s for searches beneath the surface of the water.
Tolland - June, 2016
Woodland Training
Team Knox and volunteers worked through a woodland problem despite some rainy conditions.
Windsor - May, 2016
Studying
Master Training Matthew Zarrella provides some outdoor classroom work along with hands-on water training.
Windsor Locks - April, 2016
Help from Civil Air Patrol
Team Sapphire brings her handler to the "missing people" she found, youth members who volunteer with the Connecticut Wing, Civil Air Patrol.
Manchester - March, 2016
Navigation Refresher
Manchester CERT instructor Greg conducts a training series for new and experienced navigators.
Manchester - March, 2016
Night search training
Team Turbo and backup set out to work a trailing problem in the woods at night.
Portland - March, 2016
Woodland training
Team Ted works a woodland air scent sector and locates hidden subject.
Windsor Locks - February, 2016
Trailing work
Trainee handler and Trudy practice trailing skills weekly.
West Hartford - November, 2015
Trailing Dog Finds Subject
Team Rommel fine-tunes some skills and locates hidden subject.
Windsor - July, 2015
Annual Water Search Seminar.
Master Trainer works with K9 handlers from around the country.
Southbury - June, 2015
Advanced training.
Another Master Trainer works with Team Chloe in a storage facility.
Greenwich - June, 2015
Youth Citizens Police Academy.
Team Maggie and Team Zeva teach students and demonstrate how K9s work.
East Windsor - June, 2015
Advanced Clinic.
Gaelan investigates scent.
Shelton - June, 2015
Successful Woodland Training.
Team Clancy makes an air scent find and is rewarded with play.
Windsor - May, 2015
Water Search Skills.
Team Ted actively works a body of water.
Tolland - May, 2015
Trailing Exercise.
Team Turbo prepares to begin.
Manchester - April, 2015
Experienced K9 Team Tracer.
Team Tracer prepares for their air scent recertification.
Manchester - April, 2015
Night Training with full CERT and Mountain Bike support.
Numerous K9 and Mountain Bike teams work together to search a large woodland area at night and process full paperwork.
Windsor Locks - March, 2015
Trailing - Urban Setting.
Team Rommel begins despite wintry conditions.
Suffield - March, 2015
Working in Deep Snow.
Team Knox doesn't mind the snow at all.
Fairfield - December, 2014
A varied training setting.
Team Rommel works a different problem.
West Suffield - November, 2014
Additional training under a Master Trainer.
Team Tango at work.
Stafford - November, 2014
Pearl's handler and family hosted a very nice retirement ceremony.
CCSAR thanks Pearl for many years of service.
Windsor Locks - October, 2014
CCSAR conducted advanced training under a Master Trainer.
Team Tracer works a different problem.
Windsor Locks - October, 2014
CCSAR conducted advanced training under a Master Trainer.
Team Rommel works a derailed train scenario.
Windsor - July, 2014
CCSAR conducted a professional water training seminar.
A participating team heads to work.
Suffield - May, 2014
CCSAR conducted additional water training under a Master Trainer.
Team Ted works a different problem.
Ellington - May, 2014
CCSAR conducted multi-discipline training using varying scenarios and distractions.
Team Zeva works a challenging problem and is rewarded for success.
Windsor - April, 2014
CCSAR conducted spring water training in conjunction with the Berlin Police Department's Underwater Response Unit.
Divers help Team Clancy polish his skills.
Manchester, March, 2014
Winter training is still necessary.
Manchester CERT works with CCSAR conducting woodland training.
Manchester, March, 2014
The long winter provided time for various courses.
Lindsey instructs a volunteer in Canine First Aid. Numerous members were certified.
Winter, 2014
Not all training involves hands-on work with the canines.
Marilyn practices her skills managing base operations.
Camp Hartell, Windsor Locks - November, 2013
CCSAR trained with members of the Civil Air Patrol utilizing the unique scenarios available.
An excellent training session.
North Conway, NH - October, 2013
CCSAR was called to assist in the search for Abigail Hernandez and utilized a variety of techniques.
We worked with numerous local resources.
Greenwich, CT - October, 2013
CCSAR conducted specialized training with the Greenwich PD and South Beach Volunteer Fire Dept and Dive Team.
Team Sapphire practices water search.
Woodstock, CT - May, 2013
CCSAR conducted training with the West Woodstock Dive Team, part of the Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association as part of regular water training for the dogs and handlers.
Young Knox learns that people can be in the water, thanks to this diver and a food reward.
Rocky Hill, CT - January, 2013
CCSAR assisted the Rocky Hill Police along with Connecticut State Police and additional police and emergency response teams from many surrounding towns. A 92 year-old man had not returned from his daily walk. Two CCSAR Canine teams were deployed as part of this search.
Team Members review known facts and area maps
Coventry, CT - September, 2012
CCSAR was called to assist the Coventry Fire Department and Police to search a large wooded area near a missing mother's home. Mulitple CCSAR teams were deployed in both trailing and air scent, along with Manchester EmComm resources.
Woburn, MA - July, 2012
CCSAR was called back to follow up on the ongoing search for Melanie Melanson. The Police continue to seek new information that will lead to Melanie's recovery. Mulitple cadaver teams were deployed including members of Manchester CERT and EmComm teams.
Teams are briefed and check in on paperwork before heading to their sectors
Team Scout reviews tracks from their GPS units which provide a record of the area searched
Woburn, MA - August, 2012
CCSAR was called back to to participate in a forensic dig in an area where multiple dogs showed interest.
Team dogs did alert and forensic soil samples proved positive for human decomposition.
CCSAR members are just one part of a very large professional effort
New Britain, CT - May, 2012
CCSAR provided canine models and speakers at the Melanie Rieger Conference held at Central Connecticut University. The conference provides education and support for victims of crime. CCSAR speakers provided information about the team's work locating evidence on unsolved murders.
Marian answers questions including "Yes, you can pet Teddy and all our dogs."
Hartford, CT - April, 2012
CCSAR was called to assist the Hartford Police in the search for a teen whose health might be at risk and was thought to be in a particular area.
Every possible location is checked by canine and search personnel
Team Scout searches underneath I-84
Windsor, CT - April, 2012
CCSAR held a Clinic in Water Search with Master Trainer Matt Zarrella. Both handlers and canines benefitted from his knowledge and enthusiasm. It was also a good opportunity for team members to practice their boating skills, which must be delicate for this duty.
Matt reviews important theory and technique with the group
Bella works scent breaking from the water
Gaelan is "in scent"
Middletown, CT - January, 2012
The Middletown Police requested CCSAR canine teams to search the Connecticut River where a local woman was hoped to be found.
Golden Retriever Ricky is on the job
Team Pearl works an area
Middletown Police work along with the canine and handler
President Don Miner speaks to the press to explain how canines can detect humans beneath the surface of the water
Avon, CT - Spring, 2011
The First Company Governor's Horse Guards became Connecticut's only Mounted search and rescue team, thanks to the leadership of CCSAR. 18 volunteer troopers completed over 200 hours of training in navigation, search techniques, first aid, crime scene preservation, and more to accomplish this.
Both the horses and the troopers also had to pass a practical test to be certified; Elliott is shown navigating an exercise in backing up while ignoring the distraction of a bright jacket which may flap in the wind and startle a horse without sufficient conditioning
Peter Vernesoni addresses the group and guests during the graduation ceremony. Peter was instrumental in forging the relationship to enable this training; to his right is Major Michael Downes, and seated is Steven Scorzato, Asst. Adjutant General, CT National Guard
Older Events
Dartmouth, MA - October 2008
Under the direction of local authorities in the Dartmough, MA,
a search for a person who has been missing since 2007 was executed utilizing resources from:
CCSAR
Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue
CERT
Community Emergency Response Team of Manchester, CT
EmComm
Manchester Emergency Telecommunications Network
MMBSAR
Manchester Mountain Bike Search and Rescue
Unit members arrive for the search
While the members check in at the command center, the search leaders discuss plans
Incident Commander and leaders brief the searchers about the search plans
Manchester Mountain Bike members MMBSAR prepare to deploy
Communications members EmComm of Manchester set up an antenna while K9 Taz and search team are ready to go
Windsor - November 2006
CCSAR searches along the Farmington River for a missing person.
CCSAR team plans the search and discusses deployment and assignments
The CCSAR boat is launched for searching the Farmington River while Joanne and K9 Ricky search an area on the banks of the river
Hurricane Katrina - 2005
Team Lionel works disaster techniques
Team Phantom works another area
Team Tracer at work
CCSAR - teamwork makes it happen
World Trade Center - 2001
World Trade Center -- 8:00 PM, Sept. 13th, 2001