Epic Win: Timmy's Stuck Under Debris Edition

Santa Paula, California (CNN) -- When disaster strikes and people are buried in rubble, there's often no better search tool than a dog's nose.

It's a valuable asset that has already been utilized several times this year. Trained search dogs, along with their human handlers, have provided help in high-profile disasters such as the Japan earthquake in March and the Joplin, Missouri, tornado in May.

A woman realized the potential for unwanted animals and the need of people at times of disaster. For her, the choice was simple. She decided to fill two needs and start a project that would benefit everyone. Now, thanks largely to her, there are 250 units of dog and handler ready to deploy at any time. She feels this is about half of what we need, because while they are enough to cover any one disaster, there would not be enough if more than one major disaster happened at the same time.

Eric Gray's dog, Riley, was a former shelter dog rejected by two foster homes because he was deemed too hyper to be a pet. But his search-and-rescue training "gave him a purpose," Gray said, adding that Riley has become an important partner in his efforts as a firefighter.
"(Riley) was able to focus the incessant drive ... that he had, and (he was given) an opportunity to really blossom as a dog rather than just being handed from home to home," Gray said. The two recently helped with search-and-rescue efforts in Haiti and Japan.

Veteran handler Deborah Tosh searched the World Trade Center with her dog, Abby, after the September 11 attacks.

"When I rounded that corner and was a little overwhelmed by the enormity of it, Abby had just the opposite effect," Tosh said. "She started pulling on the leash, saying: 'Great! We finally get to go to work. Let's go.' ... She got very excited."

Dogs aren't stupid. They know they are saving people, the same people who rejected them. They are man's best friend even when man treats them poorly or neglects them. This is why I usually prefer the company of animals to that of people.