K-9 Koda Keeps Community Safe

The Waitaki’s very own wonder dog ‘Koda’ is being kitted-out with essential search and rescue gear to help him and his trainer Mark Allen on their central South Island searches thanks to the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund.

Koda, an Operational Air Scenting Search Dog, is one of ten community-led initiatives to receive a share of more than $80,000 in the latest round of funding from the Meridian Waitaki Community Fund.

Mark Allen says the new equipment, including an electronic mapping system, locater beacon and an all-weather tent, will enable a more immediate response when they are called on to search vast areas.

“The new equipment will greatly increase our effectiveness. The electronic mapping system provides faster and more accurate details of potential search areas. This means we can respond to emergency situations faster - and speed is vital when we are dealing with life and death situations,” he says. MORE>>