I stopped by the Whittier Narrows Natural Area this morning and found the parking lot full of SUVs, people in khaki and lots of dogs.Turns out the all-volunteer California Rescue Dog Association, or CARDA, was holding a training session there.
A member told me they had 12 - 14 members present and an equal number of dogs. Lots of German shepherds and Labrador retrievers, if I remember correctly.
He told me they trained their dogs for open area searches, trailing and cadaver searches in various environments and settings.
I asked whether they'd had any involvement in the post-Katrina rescue and recovery efforts, and he said members had traveled to the Gulf area, with one staying out there four weeks.
I mentioned my own interest in the Natural Area, told him there were plans to build a big water museum and conference center.
His reaction?
"There's too much concrete already," he said, "and too little open space.
"That's why kids want to stay indoors and play video games. Their only chance to see nature is when playing with their Wii."
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Photo: California Rescue Dog Association.
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