Jason Merrell, Mission Ready Dog Handler
Pyro (Queensland Heeler), Mission Ready K-9 in Air Scent

Current vice president, Jason joined the group in 1999. He became Mission Ready in 2000 and worked his first dog, a Rottie named Ivan, in Air Scent. He has been a dog handler on and off for several years and is a sought-after assist to the team. When he’s not out four-wheeling in his Jeep, climbing, or caving, he is in charge of the group’s Technical Committee and Air Scent training. His dog, Pyro, is a year-old red Queensland Heeler certified in Air Scent Level II. Pyro enjoys wreaking havoc anywhere she goes and driving everyone insane while she does it. Those who are not familiar with her think that she is sweet and innocent as she fools them with her cute looks. Now that she is Mission Ready, Pyro’s secret ambition (with the help of her senior advisor, Patches) is to take over the world and make all the silly humans her slaves.

Scott Moore, Mission Ready Assist

Scott, the current SRDI President, also serves as the Vice President of the Southern Arizona Rescue Inc., a position he has held for the past 3 years.

Scott joined the team in 2000 and became a Mission Ready Assist in 2001. He is certified in Outdoor Emergency Care, CPR, and is a member of the Technical Rescue Committee. He has also completed the NIMS course work for ICS 100,200,700 and 800.

Tonya Moore, Mission Ready Dog Handler
Hero (German Shepherd Dog), Mission Ready K-9 in Cadaver

Tonya is the current board representative Member at Large. She joined SRDI in 2000 and became Mission Ready in 2001. She is a Mission Ready dog handler and is certified in Outdoor Emergency Care, CPR and has also completed NIMS course work for ICS100, 200,700 and 800.

Hero earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen certification in Septemebr 2006. Hero became became Mission Ready in Cadaver in January 2007.

Maryanne Mott, Mission Ready Dog Handler
Star (Border Collie mix), K-9 Mission Ready Air Scent

Maryanne Mott Joined SRDI in February 2004. She became Mission Ready in 2005. She is also certified as an instructor for Outdoor Emergency Care, OEC. Her dog, Star, is a Border Collie mix who was born in August 2003. Star was adopted from Pima Animal Care Center on October 1, 2003. Maryanne and Star passed their Obedience test in 2005. Star passed her endurance test in October of 2006. She is passed the canine good citizen in 2006 and her air scent test January 2007.

Karen Paquette, Mission Ready Dog Handler
Matilda (Queensland Heeler mix), Mission Ready K-9 in Air Scent, Cadaver, Water, and Evidence.

Karen, current SRDI treasurer, joined the group in 2004 and became Mission Ready in the summer of 2005. Karen is current in Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC). She has completed the NIMS course work for ICS 100, ICS 200, and ICS 700. NASAR SARTech II certification was awarded in April 2008.

Matilda, or Mati as she is affectionately known, was adopted from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona in June 2003, and she quickly let Karen know that she needed a job. Mati earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen in April 2005. Mati is mission ready and certified in Air Scent - scent discriminating (2006), Cadaver (2007), Water (2008), and Evidence (2008).

Janelle Wilt, Mission Ready Assist
Vader (German Shepherd Dog), Retired K-9

Janelle Wilt and her German Shepherd Vader were a Mission Ready team in the late 1990’s. Janelle then traveled to Texas to attend a school for professional dog trainers and became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Her original plan was to return to Tucson and apply the skills she had learned to train search & rescue dogs on a volunteer basis. However, Janelle was recruited to work at the world’s largest dog boarding, training and event center as a Professional Trainer and then as the Director of Marketing.

Janelle recently returned to Tucson and is now Mission Ready again. She is happy to be back on the team and is eager to start a new dog and assist in any way she can (Vader, now eight years old, is retired). Janelle currently works as the Marketing Director at Gum Technology and is also a student at the University of Phoenix.

Katherine Thomas, Mission Ready Assist
Kelly (Bloodhound)

Candidates

Victoria Amori

Christie Bane

Crystal Montano

Mendy Morrissey

Kari Simpson