Miller, Marie-Therese

Real-life stories explain how a border collie gathers sheep into a pen, well-trained dogs learn to track deer, a little dachshund forces a rabbit to run in a specific direction, and a scrappy Australian cattle dog herds a 1,000-pound bull.

Describes the teamwork between handlers and their search and rescue dogs as well as the training exercises the dogs must perform. Covers wilderness search and rescue dogs, bloodhounds, disaster dogs, and avalanche dogs. Includes stories of actual events such as an earthquake in Mexico in 1985, Hurricane Katrina, and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Discusses qualities of responsible people; provides examples of how to be responsible at school, at home, at work, with money, and on the Internet; and addresses responsibility for others and to self as well as altruism.

Describes the training of helping dogs that assist people with disabilities; and provides accounts of them at work.