K-9 Chica leads handler to elderly man pinned between ATV and tree

The bond between a dog and its handler can be powerful. For Mason County Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Connor and his K-9 partner, Chica, that bond recently helped save a life. Connor said he was called to a search after a 76-year-old man failed to show up for a planned meeting in Huntington. “When I got on scene, I talked to the family,” Connor said. “They said that their 76-year-old dad was checking trails and he was supposed to meet them in Huntington around 11:00. It was almost 2:00 when they called 911 saying that they haven’t heard or seen from him.” Connor and Chica joined Valley Fire and Rescue crews to search the area. While firefighters deployed a drone, Chica relied on her tracking skills to follow the man’s scent through wooded terrain. “She was tracking like a champ,” Connor said. “I was getting right crest of hill and started asking the Lord, I said just let me find him and then I faintly heard somebody yell.” Connor located the man, who said he had been pinned between an ATV and a tree for about five hours. Valley Fire and Rescue Chief Zach Adkins said the outcome could have been much worse without Chica’s help. “Unfortunately this time of year the drone is not effective under the tree canopy,” Adkins said. “So if somebody’s under the trees, we may or may not be able to see anything. That’s where the dog comes into play and makes it a lot easier for those areas that we can’t see.” Connor has worked with Chica for about a year and said she’s more than just a partner on the job. “There’s not much people I can talk to on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “I know she doesn’t talk back, but at least she’s there to listen.” After a successful rescue, Chica gets a well-earned reward. “If she does really good she gets rewarded real good with a pup cup,” Connor said. “She really loves those.” FULL STORY: https://wchstv.com/news/local/k-9-chi... _________________________________________ Follow WCHS on social media: Facebook:   / eyewitnessnewscharleston   Twitter:   / wchs8fox11​   Instagram:   / wchs8fox11   For the latest local and national news, visit our website: https://wchstv.com/ Sign up for our newsletter: https://wchstv.com/sign-up