Melissa is currently an explosives detection dog trainer/instructor/evaluator for the Department of Homeland Security and also acts as a Dogs for Conservation K9 trainer. She also serves as an independent cadaver detection K9 Trainer/Handler and has been deployed many times in Texas under TEXSAR.

History:

• 250+ SAR deployments over 13 years of cadaver dog detection throughout the U.S. & internationally (Iraq, Jamaica, Aruba).
• Thirteen years experience training detection dogs & handlers (both civilian & law enforcement) for SAR (2 personal K9s in live & cadaver), explosives (18 K9s), narcotics (3 K9s), bed bugs (60 K9s), duck eggs (2 K9s), viruses (1K9), & snails (1 K9).
• Former LATF-1 lead cadaver disaster trainer.
• Recertified annually for the past 12 years with national law enforcement organizations (USPCA, IPWDA & NNDDA) for cadaver detection.