Here’s How You Can Support Shreveport’s K-9 Search & Rescue Team

Did you know that the Shreveport Fire Department's K-9 Search and Rescue team is largely self-funded? Here's how you can help support this essential resource for Shreveport-Bossier City, LA.

What does the Shreveport K-9 Search and Rescue team do?

The mission statement of the Shreveport Fire Department and Ark-La-Tex K-9 Search and Rescue teams states that they will, 'through the highest level of professionalism, training, and compassion, collectively seek to bring home the lost.' They do this on their own time and in a lot of cases, on their own dime.

Since the group's inception in 1999, they've grown to provide services in the following areas: Human Remains Detection, Live Search Air Scenting, and Trailing. Not only have they worked thousands of incidents in and around the Ark-La-Tex, they've traveled as far as South Carolina and Florida to lend a helping hand... or paw. Members of the K-9 Search and Rescue team operate on a volunteer basis. Their time, efforts, and training are a gift given outside of their regular duties as firefighters.

How can you support the Shreveport Fire Department and Ark-La-Tex K-9 Search and Rescue teams?

That's easy! The 21st Annual Shreveport Fire Department K-9 Search and Rescue Task Force Benefit Horse Show is coming up on Saturday and Sunday, September 16th and 17th, 2023, and it'll be fun for the entire family at Holly Hill Farm in Benton, LA!

The one thing horse people love just as much as their ponies are their dogs and Kathryn McFadden D.V.M., owner of Towne South Animal Hospital, Marty Taylor-Harper and Tracy Hewlett from Holly Hill work tirelessly each year to produce this event featuring hunter, jumper, and dressage competitions. Unfortunately, Kathryn has retired from the endeavor, but Marty and Tracy, and Shreveport K-9 Search and Rescue team founder and member Kerry Foster, have picked up the torch and graciously kept this annual tradition going for horse and dog lovers in the Ark-La-Tex!

While the event is generally held over the Labor Day weekend holiday, the extreme temperatures our area has been experiencing caused the organizers to push the event back this year.

Come on out to Holly Hill Farm in Benton on both Saturday and Sunday, September 16th and 17th for lots of horsing around! If you're not competing, don't worry, there's still plenty to see and do with great food, demonstrations with the Search and Rescue dogs, shopping, and your chance to meet the heroes of the Shreveport Fire Department's K-9 Search and Rescue Task Force. The event is free to spectators and the public is invited to attend.

Come cheer on your favorite equestrian! Hunter classes are scheduled for Saturday with the jumper portion of the show running Sunday. Dressage will be offered on both days. The gorgeous cross-country course will also be open for schooling. Make sure to stop by the announcer's booth on Saturday to say hi!

What events are coming to Holly Hill Farm this Fall?

October 14 - 15, 2023: Tri-State Dressage Society Fall Rated Dressage Show
October 28 - 29, 2023: USEA Holly Hill Fall Schooling Horse Trials and Combined Test
December 1 - 3, 2023: USEA O’Connor Eventing Clinic