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Many Technical Large Animal Rescue (TLAR) responses require specialized equipment and responders who have very specialized training and expertise. When a large animal emergency incident goes wrong, it can result in devastating, and occasionally fatal consequences to animals and people.
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Why are TLAR Teams Important?
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Most public safety responders (fire / law enforcement) are not sufficiently trained in handling large animal incidents. Their primary areas of responsibilities are greatly different and staying current in those responsibilities already require significant training commitments. This lack of TLAR training has resulted in assorted responder injuries, the most sobering being the accidental death of CHP Officer Dana Paladini when he and a Deputy Sheriff attempted to resolve an accident involving a horse trailer.
The most practical solution has been to develop specially trained and equipped Technical Large Animal Rescue (TLAR) teams specifically designed to deal with accidents involving large animals, and to also facilitate evacuations of large animals during wide-area emergencies.
Several volunteers in Douglas County have trained and respond to large animal incidents, however they have historically relied on equipment responding from south Washoe County or Lyon County. In 2001 the South Washoe unit, "Rescue-1," was decommissioned and its equipment sent to Lander County. Subsequently incidents in the US-395 counties (Douglas County, Carson City, south Washoe County) relied on equipment dispatched from central Lyon County. The result was that proper equipment for an emergency in Douglas County has had to come from two counties away.
Volunteers have established resources based in Douglas County, a "reconstituted" Rescue-1 and also Transport-11. These units are based in the north Gardnerville area. Coverage extends from south Lyon County northward to southern Washoe County.
Additional volunteers are always welcome. They need to be willing to train to national and state standards and be available for responses.
Rescue-1 is equipped to handle most technical emergencies involving large animals.
Transport-11 is available for emergency transports and evacuations.
Get involved!
- Support Technical Large Animal Rescue programs in your area.
- Train and become a Technical Large Animal Rescue responder.
- Volunteer to assist with non-technical support activities.
- Donate used equipment that could be beneficial in technical rescue and evacuation situations.
- When purchasing through Amazon.com, sign up for Amazon Smile donations for Least Resistance Training Concepts. (Amazon will make a donation with every purchase, but your prices remain the same.)
These programs are community based. If you wish to become involved, have equipment to donate, or you just wish to know more about the specialized equipment and services that these teams provide, please contact
Wayne Woolway, Rescue-1 Unit Captain.
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