The California Rescue Dog Association is held its annual meeting at the Clovis Police Department headquarters, where volunteer rescue teams joined together to continue their ongoing training.
The organization currently has about 118 canine rescue teams trained to conduct searches in both wilderness and urban settings.
Just a few months ago one of the dogs helped recover the body of a man who drowned in the San Joaquin River.
"A lot of the times when we aren't looking for a live subject, the most we can do is to give closure to the family. That is itself is rewarding," Chris Colburn of Fresno said.
The California Rescue Dog Association says the organization works on about 100 searches a year, but its members conduct many more, volunteering their time with local law enforcement agencies when needed.
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Those rescue dog association members helped an author with Valley ties today, but it wasn't a life saving effort. Instead they helped her promote a book.
Award-winning author Margarita Engle was at A Book Barn in Clovis to participate in a special signing of the book Because Of Shoe.
The book features heartwarming stories about dogs, including one by Engle.
The Clovis native hopes the book helps raise awareness of the search and rescue dogs who help find missing people in the Sierra Nevada.
Engle says she also hopes the stories motivate valley kids to read more.
"I just think reading is just amazing and wonderful. I can't imagine life without it and i think that would be the same for children. I don't think that changes - I think books are just as important now as they ever have been," Engle said.
Engle read experts of her book and answered questions from the audience.
Because Of Shoe has stories written in various reading levels to encourage readers of different age groups.
