Published: November 06, 2009 06:37 pm      

Gov. Henry honors Edmond woman

EDMOND — Gov. Brad Henry Thursday honored an Edmond woman who is spreading awareness about volunteer search-and-rescue K9 teams and how they work.

Sherri Watson, of Edmond, is the co-author of the children’s book “Faith in Fay: Adventures of a Rescue Dog.” Henry honored Watson during a reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

Watson said she knew the event would be exciting, but she had no idea how her story, Fay and the book would affect those in attendance. Watson said she knew Henry back in Shawnee, but their paths had not crossed in a while.

“He has always been a strong, valued man and he’s still the same person,” Watson said. “Nothing’s changed with him.”

Henry penned the book’s foreword, and wrote that the content increased his desire to become an author himself. Henry wrote that he enjoyed the intriguing, educational story, and that he looks forward to more stories about the border collie’s adventures.

“Chock-full of important lessons, this is an adventure of substance, suspense, and fun that is sure to keep young readers turning pages,” Henry wrote. “Fay will tug at your heartstrings.”

Watson said more than 200 copies of the book, published by Brown Books Publishing Group out of Dallas, Texas, were sold during the reception. Watson said a percentage of the proceeds will go toward supporting search and rescue, including an ongoing effort to outfit search and rescue dogs across the country with police-like vests.

Watson and her husband, Gary, raised dogs for many years. They had labs and border collies who were trained in trial, show and search.

Gary put himself through college working for a search and rescue training facility. The desire and compassion he experienced there was burned deep into his soul, Watson said. Later in life, he began training animals, with a goal of raising top notch border collies.

In 2003, Gary was killed in an accident. Later, two members of the Watson’s border collie family — Fay’s parents — died.

“I wanted the legacy of our work to continue,” Watson said. “The teacher in me and my love for children, combined with the drive to continue our training work, created the burning desire to write children’s books.”

After co-authoring her first book, Watson approached friend Paula Abney, Fay’s owner and handler, with her idea for a children’s book.

Fay’s parents, Sam and Lexi, were award-winning cattle herding dogs. Fay started search training as a puppy and was mission ready in trailing by age 2.

Watson said search dogs like Fay look for lost people. The most common situations are children who have wandered off or may have been abducted, Alzheimer’s patients, hikers and hunters who have lost their way and individuals who are confused or even suicidal and under the influence of drugs.

Border collies have been bred for centuries for intelligence and working ability, according to the Border Collie Society. They are extremely intelligent, incredibly athletic, very independent thinkers who love to learn new things and excel in all forms of training classes.

Trailing dogs, also called tracking dogs, are capable of human discrimination between sources with the aid of a provided scent source, such as an article of clothing.

Watson said Fay is increasing awareness of K9 search and rescue dogs and their importance in our society. Fay is a good search dog, but her true value is in being a representative of all search dogs, she said.

Watson said she is working on the second book in what will be an eight-part series. The book is endorsed by the National Association of Search and Rescue, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Oklahoma Firefighters Association, the Oklahoma Education Association, the Tulsa SPCA and the Border Collie Society of America.

“Faith in Fay” is available online and at bookstores everywhere. For more information, visit www.faithinfay.com or www.brownbooks.com.



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