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Featured Story of the Month: Morgan: Ski

Patrol Dog

Christmas Poem

Slick Skis

Winter Magic Poem

Featured Story of the Month

MORGAN: SKI PATROL DOG

Hi, my name is Andrea. I have a 3 year old, female, Golden Retriever named, Morgan. Morgan and I work patrolling the ski hills of Silver Creek Mountain near Denver, Colorado. I got Morgan when she was 7 weeks old. We started her training when she was 9 weeks old. Morgan comes to work with me every day and she knows what her job is. You might not know what it is though. So I'll tell you ...

Morgan is what is called a K-9 ski patrol. She can locate someone who is buried in snow six feet deep. When avalanches come unexpectedly, Morgan is on call. Avalanches come rarely, so what does she do on a regular basis? She rides with me on the back of my snowmobile and helps me with usual rescues, for example: broken bones, broken skis and concussions. Her job is to look out for other skiers as I aboard the patient on the sled.

Here is our story:

Morgan was almost two years old. It had been a beautiful January day. We had a good day, not many injuries had happened. The chair-lift had stopped for the night and there were only patrols left on the hill checking the areas. There hadn't been an avalanche the whole season. Out of the blue came tumbling an avalanche. Three of the four patrols came back saying they were okay.

As soon as we heard the news, Morgan and I went out to search for Peter, the missing patrol. We went his assigned route to see if we could see any trace of him. Morgan frantically searched the area. We were running out of time. In a half a hour Peter would be dead. After searching for over 5 minutes, Morgan started to dig wildly. It was Peter that she had found, but he was lodged in the snow and was unconscious. His heart was still beating. He would be dead in 20 minutes if he was not taken out of the snow.

As I reached for my cell phone, I slipped on ice and fell down, my leg was broken. I was calling 911 to tell them we located Peter and marked a red "X where the helicopter should land. There was no way I could get to Peter. It was up to Morgan to save him. I whistled for Morgan to come. She had been digging for Peter. She brought me my cell phone. I called 911 and the helicopter came to the rescue. They did not see me and I did not have the strength to yell loud enough. They came and dug Peter out. They were about to leave when Morgan started to bark rapidly, so the paramedic followed her. Morgan showed him to me and they picked me up in the helicopter.

Peter was taken to the Central Denver hospital where he was rehabilitated to a healthy condition. He had recovering to do, but he was in a healthy condition. As for me, I was not going to be able to get back on the hill for a while, not until my leg healed to a perfect condition.

But for Morgan it was all good ... she got a "Top Dog" award for her bravery and friendship. She got a "K-9 Hero" award for her rescue and power to save Peter and me. She was featured in the Top 10 dogs in a America and was featured in the " Dogs who made a Difference" museum in Detroit.

Morgan and I continued patrolling the next October. Now that Morgan is older she is helping in the training of the puppies that want to be K-9 patrollers. She still goes on all my rescues. I go on, but in 3 years when she is 6 she will retire from being a K-9 patrol. She will become a greeter to all the guests who come skiing. And for me, I will be working with another golden named Shyla.

THE END