Go Find

Memoir documenting the training and missions of Susan Purvis and her search and rescue (SAR) dog, Tasha. Reads like a journal as Susan battles to balance her life, SAR passions, marriage, relationship with Tasha, SAR politics, etc...and do it all while trying to live up to her own expectations and those of everyone around her.

Go Find is a roller coaster ride carrying the reader on Susan Purvis’s quest to train an avalanche dog to save lives. She candidly admits she had no idea how to teach Tasha, a strong-willed black Lab puppy, and her errors often result in hilarious consequences.

Despite opposition, the dog-and-woman team always pushes forward, gaining skills and confidence. Their strong bond keeps them going through frequent failures and devastating setbacks. Eventually they achieve successes that are nationally recognized by law enforcement, the Secret Service, and Congress.

Sprinkled in with adventures are fascinating tidbits about the science of scent detection and avalanche prediction. Susan explains complicated concepts in a way that’s understandable to the lay reader.

While training sessions are often humorous, the actual search missions are stark terror—traveling in steep mountains in bitter cold, on constant alert for avalanches, seeking lost victims who may or may not be alive. Susan and Tasha risk their lives for no pay. Sometimes their only reward is the satisfaction that they brought home bodies for grieving families to bury.

Following her dream comes at great personal cost but Susan also discovers unexpected rewards. She develops a successful business that takes her all over the globe, teaching others how to save lives in the wilderness.

Go Find is a fast-moving, thrilling adventure as well as a study of one woman’s independence, resilience, and perseverance.

Debbie Burke, Author of the award-winning thriller Instrument of the Devil, blogger on The Kill Zone, http://debbieburkewriter.com

I've already recommended this book to so many readers! Will appeal to dog lovers as well as those who love real-life adventures such as Cheryl Strayed's WILD. The author spent years working with ski patrol, search-and-rescue, and wilderness first responder teams. This is a story of a young woman and her dog, Tasha, who grow together in their quest to save lives and find lost people in rugged, remote, and dangerous wilderness areas. The author does an excellent job explaining logistics of some of their missions as well as detailing the inner journey of a woman torn between her devotion to her marriage and her search-and-rescue career. I love the photos that are included in this debut memoir. Dog lovers who have never set foot in the mountains will still love the ups and downs of training a naughty puppy to follow commands and overcome extreme challenges.

Go, Find by Susan Purvis. I enjoyed this book. I’ve been a dog trainer for many years and even dabbled very briefly into the ‘search and rescue’ world. I applaud Susan for the time she spent learning as much as she could, certifying herself and her dog to do the task at hand and also to help bring the ‘search community’ validation and honor.
It’s hard to believe she got a puppy and then decided to help save lives and actually did it when she had very little experience in that field. I was moved by the fact that she takes us along on her journey and shows her vulnerability in the search and rescue world and also her life itself. She persevered in a time when a search dog team was not the first thing anyone thought about in a crisis. The ego of some of the SAR teams was definitely real and being a woman made it even more difficult.
She shows how hard work and perseverance pays off in the long run. She also shows what it is like to develop a special and rare relationship with a dog. If you like dogs and have an interest in SAR then I believe you will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is not just any dog book. Learning how to be a rescue dog and trainer is also about learning about yourself. At times both heartbreaking and thrilling, the story grabbed me and kept me reading. This was an armchair adventure for those who love dogs and that sense of wonder about nature..

I really liked this book by Sue Purvis about her dream and journey for her and her new puppy to be able to help when people became lost. They started on their way to becoming certified in search and rescue in avalanches, wilderness, water or whatever was thrown their way. She began learning the requirements and then began training her black Lab, Tasha. The book shares their quest for certifications and their various missions during their career. It’s so amazing what these dogs can do. I recommend for memoir and dog lovers everywhere. Tasha is a superhero and still a stinker at times :-) An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Susan Purvis, and the publisher for my fair review.

Blackstone Publishing
Pub: Oct 2nd, 2018

As an avid reader of survival stories, I enjoyed this memoir of what happens on the other side. Susan Purvis is certainly an unconventional person when you look at how she and her dog search and rescue. Her writing style is a bit unconventional as well. The anecdotes wander a bit, perhaps the editor let the book meander as a metaphor for being lost. More of a work written for the woman who feels lost in life than for someone looking for the concrete realities of search and rescue.

I really enjoyed reading this memoir about the training and missions of Susan Purvis and her search and rescue dog.
It’s very interesting as Susan describes her attempts to train an avalanche dog to save lives. She admits she had no idea how to teach Her dog and her mistakes often result in hilarious outcomes. It’s a very enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.