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Zip's
Corner of 911BC
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Zip
is our Forensics Evidence Specialist:
Zip,
otherwise known as "mischief in training", is
the newest addition to the 911bc team. A three year old
purebred Border Collie, Zip was found through Border Collie
Rescue. He is being trained as one of Wisconsin's first
Forensics evidence dogs.
Click Here
to see Zip's Photo Album
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| Progress
Reports
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| November
7, 2003
It appears that Zip has taken on the role of watching out
for Molly Mae. Today was their monthly date at the groomer.
When they attempted to put a ribbon in Molly Mae's collar,
Zip would growl and show his teeth. He thought they were hurting
her. It was a convincing enough performance that they decided
to forget the ribbon. Who would ever think that gentle Zip
was watching out for his female companion. I waked out feeling
quite proud of the old boy!
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February
21, 2003
Zip has had a very busy year doing
a variety of searches. . This included a double homicide in
Waukesha County, a homicide investigation over 20 years old,
many suspected grave sites, missing person cases, and over
20 seminars and public awareness demonstrations. We weekly
hone his search skills and he continues to amaze myself and
the people who watch him work. Zip and our forensic expert
Mike Andree have not only become good friends. They also made
a "find" together working a missing person case
in Dodge County on a below zero winter day.
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May
16, 2002
After the tragic
events of 9-11-2001 Zip's work as a forensic evidence K-9
drew the attention of people throughout the world. Attempting
to keep a low profile, we continue to use Zip for forensic
recovery and keep busy educating agencies on how dogs like
him can enhance there investigations. Border collies are tireless
and Zip demands a great deal of exercise each day.
This may include training, chasing tennis balls or learning
the hard way that skunks do not like to be chased!
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| August
30, 2001
Zip is still very
eager to learn new things and has an incredible memory. His
career in forensic evidence has taken him throughout Wisconsin
and beyond. Not taking his skills for granted, we still train
(and try to fool) him by doing evidence scenarios at least
twice each week. The more we challenge Zip the more he will
develop problem solving skills, a very desirable trait in
his line of work. Zip still has an obsession about tennis
balls. He will spend hours dropping them in your lap. A very
high energy border collie, he demands constant attention.
We anticipate that as more knowledge is gained about forensic
evidence dogs, Zip and other like him will become an important
tool in solving crimes.
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February
03, 2001
showing "Alert" on human remains
The only thing holding Zip's training back, is my reluctance
to train in cold and heavy snow conditions. With Molly Mae
on sick leave, Zip is now getting to spend more time with
me. During the K9 to 5 shoot, he exceeded what we expected
of him. Zip worked as a professional, ignoring the camera's
and people around him when working. His only focus was doing
what we have trained him to do, and that is finding forensic
evidence. When not working, Zip continues to find his endless
supply of tennis balls, and put them in your lap. Did I mention
that Zip is also a very "fun" dog and would be a natural at
flyball, If we had more time. |
| November
28, 2000
Zip continues to make significant progress in learning
the problem solving skills needed to be a good forensic evidence
dog. He is highly motivated and always gives his maximum effort
to please . His favorite treat is ice cubes. Zip and Molly
Mae have become the best of friends, and constant companions.
In the house they even get into trouble together by ganging
up on the old Tom cat (with claws) who still is fast enough
to keep them from getting too close. Playing in the house
is now prohibited pending Molly Mae's orthopedic evaluation.
We have found that Zip may soon replace our vacuum cleaner.
Not a speck or drop of anything he can smell will go unnoticed.
We now keep the kitty litter box in the basement (yuck). Zip
still is a "bed hog" who will not only attempt to push me
out, but he will stick is tongue in my ear until I move over.
I guess a so called "normal" individual would find living
with two border collies hectic or even impossible. I feel
honored and privileged to share my life with them. They have
taught me patience and created a bond for eternity... |
| November
17, 2000
Zip has now logged 25 hours of training time. He is able to
recognize and find five different types of scent. One of these
is soil believed to be between 3,000 - 4,000 years old. This
sample came from an Indian burial ground in California. Zip
is being trained to "alert" by doing a down. He does this
intensely, giving the border collie "eye" to the location.
This all is coming pretty easy for Zip as he learns very quickly.
A few repetitions and he has it figured out. Now we need to
work on slowing him down and teaching him problem solving
skills, such as scenting articles in trees, finding multiple
holes, etc.
This
week we were called out on an evidence search. On the insistence
of one of the police officials, I brought Zip along. So he
had his first official call out on Tuesday. He did fine on
commands and spent most of his time trying to figure out what
to look for! I have no doubt he would have alerted if human
remains were to be found in the area we were searching.
With
pending surgery for Molly Mae's ACL tear. Zip has some big
shoes to fill while Mae heals. We may or may not be ready
for search work. I can say Zip will not let me down. And he
will be quick to point out my mistakes during training sessions...
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