LOVED this book! These are some seriously amazing people. And amazing dogs, too! ( )

A wonderfully touching look at canine search and rescue teams straight from the source...both handler AND dog...SCENT OF THE MISSING takes you behind the scenes of the events that draw their attention. From the head lining stories of national tragedies to the small town disappearances big in their own way, the reader is welcomed into this "special club" and given a front row seat to the highs and lows experienced in their daily calls to work. You get to meet teams with years of experience as well as see one pup's growth (Puzzle) from percocious puppy to certified search and rescue dog...with all the antics along the way. Though Puzzle only truly gets into her first actual search at book's end, the journey to get to that said search is a story in and of itself making this a memorable read. Highly recommended for those pet lovers as well as anyone wanting a better understanding of all the work that goes into creating a successful search and rescue team... ( )

The title and cover photo really says it all for this one. Scent of the Missing is a memoir by Susannah Charleson about her experiences doing search and rescue work with dogs. Search and rescue is a labor of love and you can tell from the writing that this is Charleson's passion. The story alternates between her experiences as a field assistant and her time training up her own puppy to become certified as a SAR dog and handler. The story is heartwarming and interesting as I learned about SAR in general, which I'd only had very basic knowledge of. I really admire the people who volunteer for this line of work - it's grueling and not for the faint of heart. ( )

Fascinating and very well written account of the life of an SAR dog handler, from her decision to become a handler to finding the right dog to learning what it takes to do SAR. Engrossing read, which I highly recommend. ( )

Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog