K9 Rescue Team Honored for Montecito Mudslide Efforts

(Photos: MacGyver, Joanne Schoenfeld, Rick Stein)

Source: Santa Barbara Sunrise Rotary Club

Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue K9 MacGyver and his handler Rick Stein was honored with a Pup Harris Fellow (a.k.a. Paul Harris Fellow) recognition, Santa Barbara Sunrise Rotary’s highest honor.

MacGyver and Stein work side by side to find lost people. MacGyver, a 5-year old Australian Shepherd, is specifically trained off-lead to find live, and if necessary, deceased human scent. Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue dogs are owned and trained by their handlers, who are volunteers and not paid for their work. They are on call 24/7 and can be deployed 365 days a year.

Joanne Schoenfeld honored MacGyver and Stein with a special Pup Harris Fellow for their critical search and rescue efforts during the Montecito Debris Flow Incident earlier this year.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

Schoenfeld, a local real estate broker, past Club President, and 23-year Rotarian, stated, “MacGyver and his partner, Rick Stein, are only one of many Santa Barbara Search and Rescue teams in our County.  While I chose to honor them for their difficult work during the debris flow, they are hard at work all year long locating the missing in our area. The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise is another force for good in our community and I am honored to be a part of their good work.”