K9's train to help rescuers in disaster

TULSA - Meet Bruster. He's a four and a half year old black Labrador. He's Roger Fourkiller's best friend, and also your's if disaster should strike. On Saturday, Bruster took part in a certification test so he can continue to go out and help rescuers.

"It's very important if you have tornadoes coming through tornado alley, of course Katrina will show you, we had a record number of teams out for Katrina," Fourkiller says.

The training scenario is set up to look like an earthquake has knocked down a concrete building. The dogs now have the task of trying to locate the victims. Live people are buried under the rubble because this is the scent the dogs were trained to find.

They then have 20 minutes to sniff the victim out and when they do, they start barking. In a real life situation, rescuers would then go in and get the victim. Officials say it takes a special dog to be able to help do this.

"You have all your agility that you have to do, they have to go up and down ladders on their own, across the high planks, they have to go through wobbly surfaces, slick surfaces and do all of that also," Fourkiller says.

Officials say within the last ten to fifteen years more states have started developing canine teams like this, as they are realizing how important a role these dogs can play in saving many lives.