This 'Eagle' has four legs

COEUR d’ALENE — The “Eagle” didn’t land at the Eagles Lodge on Sherman Avenue, but it was wandering around on four legs.

“She’s super smart,” said Morgan Zajicek, Coeur d’Alene firefighter and canine handler. “She’s very willing to learn and loves people.”

Eagles members Friday met the chocolate lab they bought for Idaho Disaster Dogs.

Named "Eagle,” the 12-week-old puppy showed off big paws and a big personality as she was petted and hugged by men and women. She responded with tail wags and doggy kisses.

“She’ll be well taken care of,” said Gene McCloskey, charity chairman for the Eagles Aerie on Sherman Avenue. 

He said the Eagles want the emergency-response canine to have the best of everything, from training to food to veterinary care.

“We’ll have no problem getting anything for the dog,” McCloskey said.

The club provided about $1,500 to buy Eagle, and another $1,500 to help cover her training expenses over two years.

“They’ll get more if they need it,” McCloskey said.

Eagle came from Born to Hunt Kennels in Kellogg. She 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. Zajicek will be her handler.

It costs more than $10,000 and takes about two years to train a dog to respond to disasters and search-and-rescue situations.

Idaho Disaster Dogs has six canines on its team. Two of those are nearing retirement age, so Eagle will step in once her training is complete and she has earned her certification.

“She will be a great addition to the current dogs on the team,” Zajicek said.

She was grateful for both the Eagles and Eagle.

“It’s a pretty big thing to sponsor a dog,” she said. 

    Members of the Coeur d'Alene Eagles gather for a picture with Morgan Zajicek and Eagle, the chocolate lab they bought for Idaho Disaster Dogs, at their Sherman Avenue club on Friday.