Saastaa - Helping Someone To Survive

Säästää is obviously Laura's dog, as she often looks at Laura for approval when Gene gives her a command. Laura has been working hard to guide Säästää's training and development, and the strong bond between them is apparent to all who see them together.

Laura began this journey by watching the heroic dogs performing searches amongst the rubble of New York's Trade Towers, and decided it was time to act when she witnessed the devestation from Hurricane Katrina. Almost immediately, she started reading and searching for how to get started, and this effort led her to Kuper Haus German Shepherds where Säästää was born on October 9th, 2005.

Laura brought Säästää home Thanksgiving weekend in the fall of 2005, giving us one more reason to be thankful that year. Laura wanted a special name for her to signify the importance of her place in our family, and it took two days of searching the Internet to find the name you see on these pages. When we found it, Laura didn't hesitate to confirm that this was the right name for her new teammate. Watching the two of them develop into a tight-knit team has been the ultimate pleasure. Säästää craves Laura's attention and loves receiving her praise more than anything else.

As Säästää continues her education, so does Laura. July 9-11, 2008, Laura received training and certification for the Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) through the Humane Society of the United States. This will enable Laura to participate in the capture, rescue, and housing of animals impacted by disaster situations anywhere in the United States. Through this involvement, Laura will be able to assist in times of disaster, both through Säästää's work and when Säästää is off-duty and resting.

We'll continue to bring you more news on their journey as it unfolds.