Joker, the Branford police dog, led a rescue team into the woods yesterday to find a local woman who had taken her dog for a hike in the woods and did not return home.
The 70-year-old woman and her dog left their home late in the afternoon and once in the woods she may have gotten lost. She entered the woods at the end of Red Hill Road. When she had not returned by 7:30 p.m. her son contacted the police, who did not release her identity.
Joker and his handler Officer Luigi Amasino were dispatched to the woman’s last known location, an area where her car was parked. Joker picked up her scent at her car and then followed it, leading the team into the woods. Accompanying Joker and Officer Amasino were Officer Brett Johnson, Fire Captain Jason Karpovich, and Firefighter/Paramedic Ralph Marino.
Branford Police Department
Joker took the team through the woods for about 1 mile. Within 20 minutes he located the woman behind a large boulder, her dog at her side.
The paramedics treated the woman for minor hypothermia; however, she was able to walk out of the woods with limited assistance by her rescuers. She was later transported to an area medical facility for evaluation.
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Joker is no joke, he's the real deal. Kudos to him and his human helpers. Well done guys!