After four days of searching through rubble in Japan, Captain Ron Sanders has returned to work, while his dog Tomo is taking some well deserved time off.
"It’s still amazing to me to watch them work. It’s just a thrill to see them when we go out and train, and see what they can do,” said Sanders.
Captain Sanders has been training Tomo since he was 10 weeks old, and it has been a full time job just keeping him in shape. Tomo thinks it is a fun game, and that is why he is always excited to go to work.
"The way he is taught is that there’s someone under the rubble, and they've got his toy, and that’s his paycheck. So when he finds them and barks at them, usually a toy will be produced and he'll get to play," said Sanders.
The interesting thing about Tomo is, he understands commands in both English and Japanese. Another interesting fact is his name, 'Tomo,' means friend in Japanese.
"It’s kind of special for me to go to Japan with him, kind of full circle," said Sanders.
Tomo and Capt. Sanders have previously been to Haiti, as well as Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, on this trip he suffered a minor injury. He cut his paw.
"When he did it, I didn't even see it. He didn't wince, and he was just marching along. Pretty tough fellow," said Sanders.
Despite the injury, Captain Sanders says the opportunity to help Japan was a true honor for the both of them.
"Even though you couldn't find somebody, you at least did something to help them get back to where they wanted to be," said Sanders.
Together, Tomo and Capt. Sanders are always willing to help in a moment’s notice. It doesn’t matter where they go. All that matters, is that they are together.
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