The life of a mountain rescue search dog team

 I think 'The Search' is one of the best books of its genre I have come across.  
 
Book Review for Vertebrate Publishing 

This is the story of a man’s journey and redemption through the training and trust of his search and rescue dog. It is not a manual of how to do this, it is a description of what makes the journey worthwhile, ranging from ecstatic heights when he and his dog, Scout, achieve the perfect working relationship to dark lows of perceived failures. In Alison, his partner, mentor and safe haven, he finds the support, acceptance and patience to persist in his quest to ‘choose not to give in, to choose to live life fully.’

The battle ground is that of Everyman, fought on many levels, life, death, place and circumstance, in forging relationships, love and trust and recognising achievement in the face of the frailty and flaws within the individual. The motivation is the one that binds all members of all Rescue Teams together; ‘the desire to help someone in distress.’

Relationships are inevitably twined within landscape, and this is the other great joy of the book. Descriptions of the wild places are as intense as the feelings they trigger. An added fascination in his account is his growing ability to understand the world as Scout does, in particular the mechanics of how scent rises from a ‘Body’, travels along the winds and dumps itself in the difficult terrains. Thus, the handler can show their dog the best lines to take in covering the ground. In this mutual trust Scout also learns to take responsibility, waiting and watching out for Paul as his health becomes problematic.  


It is perhaps not an easy read, the prose tough, dark and gritty at times, but persist and the challenge of taking responsibility for how best to accept yourself and live your life to the best of your ability will resonate and challenge your own efforts.