RogueVomHoltzbergSAR

Rogue and I are currently in Virginia at a National Canine Search Specialist Course for FEMA/Homeland Security that is being given to handlers from all over the United States, and I just wanted to let you know of all the compliments he has received. He just turned a year old 2 weeks ago, and people are amazed to find out how young he is because of how well he's doing. So many people have come up to us and commented on Rogue and what an "awesome" dog they feel he is. Several of our instructors have come up to us wanting to know more about him and telling me what a nice dog he is. We even got an offer from the NYPD people here to buy him for a handsome price and turn him into a Police/SAR K9 for their Department, which I replied that there would be no way that we could ever part from each other. I think that was our biggest compliment. I just wanted to let you know that your puppy was making a huge impression on FEMA/Homeland Security. Everyone is extremely impressed with his, play, prey, and hunt drive and his true dedication to me as his partner. He does whatever I ask of him and has complete trust in me as a handler. He has never failed me. He is a truly amazing dog.

I attached some pictures of him, the first one is from one of our training weekends a couple of weeks ago. Thank you Becky. He is just truly amazing and very special, and I just know that he has great things in store for him....

Jennifer McKay

email jmckay@pharmcc.com

Rogue Vom Holtzberg VATF2 - FEMA/DHS

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This page was last updated: October 18, 2007

New email on 03-28-05 Jennifer wrote.....................................

Hi Becky! I just thought I would give you a quick update on Rogue. He's doing awesome! He's now a year and a half old and still out performing for his age. We are scheduled to take our certification test in about 4 months and hopefully by then we will be good and ready. We just got back from a national training weekend in Texas where Rogue performed wonderfully and again received tons of complements. He travels so well, and always stays so calm. His temperament is just truly amazing. Going through the airports, and flying on the plane at my feet, he just stays so relaxed and takes it all in stride. The train rides, the car rides.....it's just another days work for him it seems. Nothing ever seems to phase him. He's always so good when people and children come swarming from all around to pet him and ask questions about him. He is such a good representation not only of the breed, but of what a Homeland Security SAR K-9 should be like. We always get comments when we go through security that he is better behaved than most of their passengers. HA! I attached a picture for you. I have a lot more pictures of us training in Texas, but I need to get them developed. When I do, I'll send you some. :-)

I really hope you stay breeding for a long time Becky, because in another couple of years I will be looking to get another puppy to bring up and train to hopefully someday be able to follow in Rogue's footsteps. Again, I can't thank you enough for such a great partner.

Keep Checking back for more news on Rogue's progress toward his SAR Certification!

On August 31, 2005 Jennifer wrote:

Hi Becky! I just thought I would give you a quick update on Rogue. He is now ready to go take his FEMA/Homeland Security certification test in October and he will be an official Urban Search and Rescue K-9. He passed his pre-test certification this past weekend with flying colors. The pre-test is the same as the main test, just issued by your home task force. We will be flying to Indiana in October to take the official test. I only wish it could have come just a few months earlier....

Our task force got deployed yesterday, along with all 27 remaining FEMA Task Forces from all over the US to the hurricane Katrina disaster. If we could have seen into the future and worked a little faster we would have been able to be there along side all of our other team mates. But our time will come soon. It was hard yesterday for Rogue and I to watch everyone else, and his buddies leave without us....Soon enough it will be his turn. There are a lot of retiring dogs this year, and he will need to take their place and I know he will do a great job!

On another note.....Rogue and I will be moving next week to Virginia where we will join his other two brothers Stout and Gildon. We have been accepted by the Virginia Beach Task Force as a K9 team, and that's without even being certified yet. A lot of people in Virginia have seen him work, and have been very impressed. I know that they are going to be getting an amazing dog on their team. So look forward to an update soon on Rogue's certification, as well as hearing about future deployments, as the Virginia Beach Team is one of the most frequently deployed teams to hurricanes and other disasters. The East Coast seems to be a very busy place these days....

Please keep our K9 teams in your thoughts as they are entering into a very dangerous situation down south. We are hoping for their safe and quick return.

Here are a couple of updated pictures of Rogue. Thanks Becky!!

Jennifer and Rogue

CONGRADULATIONS ROGUE AND JENNIFER!!!!

On October 8th, 2005 just 3 days after his 2nd birthday, Rogue passed the FEMA/Homeland Security Certification Test! He is now officially a Nationally Certified FEMA Disaster Dog!!!!

As always Rogue did amazing and just knocked their socks off not only in his obedience and agility, but in his searching of a collapsed structure for 2 missing and buried victims. He performed PERFECTLY!!! And once again, he got TONS of compliments. Out of 31 teams that tested from around the US, less than half passed. So that in itself is a true testament to Rogue not to mention that he was one of the youngest dogs to pass the test. What most people seemed to say about him was not only was he one of the most handsome Shepherds they've ever seen :-), but that he seemed to have such a huge heart and it showed in his work and his relationship with me. He is truly dedicated to his job.

We've both been working at this for a long time. I can't believe that it's been almost 2 years since I first picked him up at the airport. He has come a long way. In about 6 months to a year, we will be going for the advanced FEMA certification. It really involves a lot more and a longer day of working. But he'll pass that too. I have no doubt.

I can't thank you enough Becky for Rogue. He is a very special dog and a very good friend.

Jennifer McKay and Rogue Vom Holtzberg

email jmckay@pharmcc.com

Rogue is a Dragon Vom Felsenschloss son. His dam is a Czech import Polly Venusina Sopka (retired)

We could not be more proud of Jennifer and Rogue with all their hard work, long hours of training and working to achive this goal. Jennifer purchased Rogue as a 8 week old puppy and has accomplished so much in just two years. We hope the she and Rogue will be able to help victims of disasters, find lost children and save many lives in the years to come. Congratulations from all of us at Holtzberg K9!!!

Way to go!!!

We will continue to update this page with all Rogue and Jennifer's future deployments, as members of the Virginia Beach Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Please be sure to check back often.

Up Date May 2, 2006!!!

CONGRADULATIONS AGAIN!!! ROGUE AND JENNIFER!!!!

We did it! Rogue and I passed our advanced certification - Type I test for FEMA/DHS Urban Search and Rescue this past weekend in Boston, Mass. It was a long and stressful day, but Rogue was a real trooper, and as always, did GREAT! He even managed to help pick up the slack when I was making mistakes. :-) I think he was better prepared for the test than I was........It's just amazing to see how far he's been able to come for his age. I'm so proud of him! Again he was one of the youngest dogs there testing. We still have a long way to go training wise, and a lot of work ahead of us as it seems like a never ending job, but he now holds the highest certification given to FEMA SAR K9's in the US, and the fact that we were able to pass on our first try is definitely an accomplishment. There are many teams that have to take this test several times before passing. We are now one of approximately 180 FEMA K9 teams in the US certified at the Type I level. And if last year is any hint to what this year will be like, I think we have a very busy year ahead of us in regards to deployments, and I know that Rogue will handle himself with confidence.

I can't ever say it enough Becky....thank you....thank you....thank you.....for such a wonderful partner and friend!

Jennifer McKay

VATF2 - FEMA/DHS

K9 Handler

K9 ~ Rogue

757.831.9870