There are many ways you can bond with your dog: playing fetch outside, cuddling on the couch, or even competing in dog sports. For Elizabeth Jennings and her Bracco Italiano “Stevie,” though, they do so by giving back to their community.
The duo is a part of the Pennsylvania Wildlife Search and Rescue (PaWSAR), a volunteer-based group with a mission to help safely return missing individuals to their families and provide recovery services as needed. Stevie is currently training to join the K9 unit and is proving that traditional SAR breeds aren’t the only breeds with trailing capabilities.
Looking for Light After Loss
Jennings got her start with PaWSAR in January 2024 after her mom passed away. She needed a new, positive activity to channel her energy into. The group gave her the opportunity to help out her community and put her energy levels to the test. If successful, she’d commit to getting a Bracco — a breed she’s always wanted and admired for their look and movement (and coming from an Italian family, she wanted an Italian breed). Jennings just wasn’t sure her lifestyle was the right fit, and PaWSAR would determine whether she could keep up with the energetic, outdoorsy breed.
“I quickly fell in love with SAR,” she says. ” I started as a ground team member and got to work closely with my teammates and their various K9s and K9s-in-training.”
That June, she brought home Stevie, who exceeded all of her expectations of Braccos, including her energy. Daily walks wouldn’t be enough to satiate Stevie’s energy; she required an activity, and Jennings felt prepared to introduce her to PaWSAR.
“Through Stevie, I learned firsthand just how important proper breeding and early socialization are, especially for a working dog. Her breeders, Nate Mixson and Kristi Woods Libertore really helped me set her up for success via fantastic genetics, and in the first eight weeks she was raised,” she says.
The organization’s K9 captain evaluated Stevie in October 2024 and, since then, she’s been training with the team.
Proving Braccos’ Unique Capabilities
German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are the most common dogs used for SAR, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only breeds capable of doing the job.
“Stevie is proving that other breeds, even less common ones, have a strong skill set that is valuable to the mission,” says Jennings.
Bracco’s are known as bird dogs that can adapt to all types of hunting, which means Stevie can be prone to chasing animals and critters. However, it’s an obstacle that the two have been facing together, successfully.
“Making sure they stay on task and know that they won’t be rewarded for chasing critters while working is super important. Stevie learned quickly that she only gets her rewards (food/toys) from people,” she explains.
Stevie is currently learning to follow a scent trail on different surfaces and spends three Saturdays a month putting her new skills to practice — and loves doing so with the team.
Being Part of a Team
While SAR offers a unique opportunity for Jennings and Stevie to bond outside their home, she says it shouldn’t be seen as a hobby or something fun to do with your dogs. Instead, “it’s an entire (expensive) lifestyle where lives are on the line.”
PaWSAR consists of highly trained K9 teams across numerous areas: Ground, Medical, Drone, and Search and Management. Both the Southeastern and Western divisions serve more than 25 counties in Pennsylvania, and the team currently has 29 members, including five certified K9s and seven in training. They’re not struggling for help, though. Jennings says they’re constantly growing.
And they’re always training. In 2024, alone they completed 7,457 hours of training, including in-person sessions and videos. In addition to improving their skills, Jennings says they also help educate local communities.
Right now, Stevie is working toward her certification in Trailing, but there are two other K9 disciplines within the team: Human Remains (land and water) and Air Scent. Once she’s completed her training, Stevie will be certified either through the International Police Working Dog Association or the North American Police Work Dog Association. The two won’t be done once they earn the certification, though. Depending on which organization certifies Stevie, she’ll have to retest yearly or every two years — meaning their work has only just begun.
“SAR has many ups and downs,” Jennings says, “but it’s extremely rewarding.”