AR-News: (MA - US) Novice S&R dog leads authorities to man with MS

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http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=47946


Rescue on command
By David McLaughlin / News Staff Writer
Saturday, May 15, 2004

ASHLAND -- A novice search-and-rescue dog led authorities yesterday to a 
32-year-old Ashland man with multiple sclerosis who had wandered into the woods in 
the middle of the night and got lost. 
    
     Within minutes of picking up the scent and beginning the search, 
14-month-old Dublyn found Thomas Gosse lying on the ground covered with leaves to 
keep warm. He was disoriented and taken to MetroWest Medical Center to be treated 
for hypothermia, according to police. 
    
     "It's unbelievable. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of 
her," said Dublyn's owner, Ashland firefighter Lyn Moraghan, who started training 
the Australian shepherd for rescues only a few months ago. 
    
     Gosse had left his home around 11 p.m. Thursday to go fishing at the 
Ashland Reservoir. A few hours later, according to police, he called his mother, 
whom he lives with, on his cell phone and told her he was lost in the woods 
with no feeling in his arms and legs. 
    
     His mom lost the connection and called police around 3 a.m. 
    
     "She was frantic," said Ashland Police Lt. Scott Rohmer. 
    
     Moraghan was at her Medway home when the call came in and she rushed to 
the scene with Dublyn to help with the search. 
    
     She first walked Dublyn around Gosse's SUV, which was parked nearby, and 
then unleashed her, giving the dog the command to find a live person -- "Find 
Fred." 
    
     Dublyn went to work, walking about 60 feet down a dark trail before 
leaving the path to go farther into the woods. Within minutes of searching, she 
found Goose lying in a fetal position asleep. 
    
     "It's absolutely unbelievable she made the find and he was all right to 
come out," she said. Without Dublyn, she added, "We would've had to wait 'til 
it was bright to find him he was so well hidden." 
    
     Gosse's mother, Helen MacEachern, said yesterday her son is doing OK, 
but she said she did not feel well enough to talk about what happened. She did, 
however, thank police and firefighters for their help. 
    
     "I just love 'em to death," she said. "They went above and beyond to 
help find him." 
    
     


( (David McLaughlin can be reached at 508-626-4338 or at dmclaugh at cnc.com.) )



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