Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | spring 2006
Robin Habeger and Talyn

 


SPRING 2006
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Rescue K9-11

Robin Habeger’s border collie, Talyn, has a pedigree. And a resume.

In fact, it may be the only professional resume you’ll ever see that lists dates of rabies vaccinations.

But Talyn and his human partner have impressive credentials working together on Iowa’s STAR 1 Search and Rescue team. Habeger, director of the business and partnership development program in the College of Business, has training in forensic science, crime scene preservation, blood-borne pathogens, canine behavior, trailing, water search, and more. She and Talyn have searched for nearly 25 missing persons and drowning victims since 2002.

When Habeger (’93 community & regional planning, ’01 MBA) got Talyn as a puppy in 2001, she said she knew he needed to have a job. “Border collies are intelligent,” Habeger said. “If you don’t provide them with a productive outlet for their brain and body energy, they will make up their own, which is not necessarily what you want.”

So she immersed herself and her puppy in search and rescue training. The team has searched for victims in the Woodward tornado aftermath, a missing berrypicker in Van Buren County, and a 4-year-old boy who drowned in Fort Dodge.

Habeger says she has a special bond with Talyn because of the way they work together.

“When I got Talyn, I was going to ‘play’ in search and rescue, which was a nice little fantasy on my part. But what it turned out to be is that my dog loves his job and I love my dog. I also love training my dog. It makes him happy to do his job. It also of course is a very nice community service project that we do. So it’s a win-win for everybody.”

-- C. Gieseke

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