Cd'A Eagles unite for 'Eagle'
The Coeur d'Alene Eagles 486 donate $1,500 to Idaho Disaster Dogs for the purchase of a dog later this year. From left, Rod Stach, Lynn Anderson, Chuck Anderson, Scott Sutherland, Michael Quinn, Patrice Quinn, Terry Jones, Coeur d'Alene firefighter/paramedic and Idaho Disaster Dog team leader Cody Moore, Bob Pinnt, Laura Sutherland, Lynne Fullbrook and Scott Robinson with Teagan Robinson.
BILL BULEY/Press
COEUR d'ALENE — When members of Coeur d'Alene Eagles 486 learned the benevolent fraternity was raising money to buy a puppy for Idaho Disaster Dogs, they were supportive.
When they learned that the dog's name would be "Eagle," they went overboard to donate and reached the $1,500 goal in a few days.
"This place went berserk," said Gene McCloskey, charity chairman for the Eagles Aerie on Sherman Avenue.
He said the Eagles want this emergency-response canine to have the best of everything, from training to food to veterinarian care.
"We want to make sure this is the best service dog they ever had," McCloskey said.
Cody Moore, Coeur d'Alene firefighter/paramedic and Idaho Disaster Dogs team leader, said with several dogs nearing retirement, they'll train younger ones to be ready to step in.
He appreciated the donation.
"I think it’s incredible, beyond generous," he said.
It costs more than $10,000 and takes about two years to train a dog to respond to disasters and search-and-rescue situations.
Eagle will be owned by Idaho Disaster Dogs and be deployed from the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department's canine search team. It will respond to nationwide calls as needed.
McCloskey said as far as the Eagles are concerned, Eagle will lack nothing.
"Anything that dog needs, it will get," he said.