Team Kirtland military working dogs are top three winners

  • Published
  • By Lia Martin
  • Nucleus staff
KIRTLAND AIR FORC BASE, New Mexico --  The 2nd Annual Southwest Regional Police K-9 Trial was held in Albuquerque earlier in December. In tactical and detection trials, the K-9 dogs were judged in detecting narcotics, explosives, and human remains. Dogs and their handlers were mostly from New Mexico, but some came from other states.

Three military working dogs from Team Kirtland placed in first, second and third place in the explosives detection division.

Wisum competed in multiple events in the two-day event and took home first place and won all the places in the explosives detection category. Wisum is handled by Staff Sgt. Raymond Castro.

Ricky won second place, and is handled by Staff Sgt. Jeramy Scarbrough and Kyra took third place. Kyra is handled by Staff Sgt. Frank Russell. The event is hosted by Friends of New Mexico K-9.

What is amazing is that Wisum and handler Sergeant Castro have only worked together since Oct. 15, and this has been a first experience for both dog and Sergeant Castro.

According to Sergeant Castro - who has never handled a military working dog before this October - winning the trial also has given him techniques he had never seen before the trial by observing other handlers at the event.

Sergeant Castro will be taking Wisum to support Operation Iraqi Freedom by sniffing out bombs and explosive devices.

"I hope to find a lot of caches, and IEDs," said Sergeant Castro.

Kyra's handler Sergeant Russell says that you have to get in their heads he finds to train them. It was harder in a psychological way to work with a military working dog than he had first thought.

"The psychological point is harder," Sergeant Russell said. "Each dog is different with a different personality."

Sergeant Russell will support Operation Iraqi Freedom in February.

According to Dave Farrell, Kirtland military working dogs serve a dual purpose - they are patrol and detection trained. Mr. Farrell says Friends of New Mexico not only sponsors the annual regional trial, but they also offer workshops and handlers can receive certification for their K-9 team members.

For more information, visit www.FriendsOfK9.com, or call Friends of New Mexico K-9. 505-323-2118