Gloria is a founding member of BSARD, active since the team was established in 2004. She has prior experience in K9 Search and Rescue dating back to 1998. In addition to her duties as a Senior K9 Handler, she also is active in Search Planning and Operations, Field Support, and is the primary contact point for team callouts.
Her husband Ed is also an active member of BSARD.
She and her current partner Finley are certified for Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water.
Prior certifications she has held with her K9 partners are Mantrailing (with Emma, Dudley, and Pattison), Wilderness Area Search (with Pearl), Human Remain Detection on Land, Human Remain Detection in Water (with Emma, Dudley, Pattison, and Pearl) and Advanced Human Remains Detection with Pearl.
Her personal certifications and training she has completed throughout her career include NASAR SARTECH III, NIMS ICS courses (100, 200, 700, and 800), Adult, Child and Infant First Aid, CPR and AED, GPS Navigation, Crime Scene Preservation, Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Awareness, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness, Personal Respiratory Protection, Personal Protection against Blood-borne Pathogens, Canine First Aid (as well as being a former Veterinary Technician) and Managing Search Operations (a 40 hour course).
Gloria is retired from a career in office and administrative positions in large and small companies, and also ran a small book sales franchise for a while.
K9 Finley, Active since 2021
Finley is a male Labrador Retriever X Golden Retriever mix, born January 2020.
He was a “change of career” dog who came to Gloria via Canine Companions, where he was being trained for a career as a service dog. After living with his puppy raisers for 18 months, he began training for his new job, but ultimately the staff felt he wasn’t best suited to that role. Gloria adopted him after testing his compatibility for SAR work. He started training for his new career in December 2022 and passed his first certification test in April of 2023. He loves his new job and has been very successful in it.
Finley holds current certifications in Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water. He also has his Canine Good Citizen designation from the AKC.
Finley does circle zoomies when he is playing with his neighborhood dog friends Sully and Daisy Mae.
(Photo by Sarah Gentry Photography.)
K9 Pearl, Active from 2013 to 2025
Pearl is a female Labrador Retriever, born June 2013. Her litter mate Dalton and half-brother Jed were also on the BSARD team. She started training for her SAR career in September 2013.
Pearl held certifications in Wilderness Area Search, Advanced Human Remains Detection, Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water. During her 12-year career she participated in 174 search operations. Pearl also has her Canine Good Citizen certification from the AKC.
Pearl retired in November 2025 and is currently enjoying her retirement. Her best friend on the team is her fellow retiree, Griff.
K9 Pattison, Active from 2007 to 2019
Pattison was a male Labrador Retriever X Basset Hound mix, born February 2007. He was a “rescued rescuer” that was literally found under a shrub at a local park where someone had dumped him while we were training. Our thought is that whoever had him couldn’t keep him for some reason, saw all our vehicle, and assumed that if one of us didn’t take him we’d know somebody who would. It was still a big risk and luckily Emma sniffed him out. He began his SAR training in March 2007.
Pattison was certified in Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water. During his 12-year career he participated in 153 search operations. He also successfully passed his American Temperament Test.
Pattison retired from active search work in April 2019 and lived comfortably in retirement until he passed away in April 2022.
K9 Dudley, Active from 2004 to 2013
Dudley was a male Labrador Retriever born in June 2002 and starting his SAR training in October of the same year. He was one of BSARD’s founding K9’s, coming to the team with Gloria in May 2004. He was Emma‘s full brother, 3 years younger, with the same parents.
Dudley was certified in Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water. In the 9-1/2 years he was active with BSARD he participated in 58 search operations. He also had his Canine Good Citizen certification from the AKC.
Dudley retired November 2013, and passed away in March 2014.
K9 Emma, Active from 2004 to 2011
Emma was a female Labrador Retriever, born on New Year’s Eve 1998 and beginning her training in March 1999. She was one of the founding K9s of BSARD, having come over with Gloria when the team was formed in 2004. Her younger brother Dudley was also on the BSARD team at its founding.
Emma held certifications in Mantrailing, Human Remains Detection on Land and Human Remains Detection in Water. In the almost 7 years she was with BSARD she participated in 31 search operations, the largest being after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She also had her AKC Canine Good Citizen certification and passed her American Temperament Test.
Emma worked until February 2011, and passed away just over a month later.
