Search dogs take break from mudslide recovery

DARRINGTON, Washington (AP):

FAMILIES COPING with the loss of friends, neighbours and normality sought comfort in church services Sunday, as crews worked to recover more victims from the soggy pile of mud that buried the small mountainside community of Oso, Washington, more than a week ago.

Rescue crews said Sunday that many of the dogs that have been essential in the search for victims will take a two-day break. Days of sniffing through cold, soupy mud and nearly non-stop rain have taken their toll on the animals, and officials say dogs can lose their sensing ability if they work too long.

"The conditions on the slide field are difficult, so this is just a time to take care of the dogs," said Kris Rietmann, lead spokeswoman for the team working on the eastern portion of the slide.

other dogs will continue

Dogs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more recent arrivals on the scene, will continue working, said Heidi Amrine, another spokeswoman for the operation.

Engineers were watching for any material sloughing off the landslide area, making sure that a weekend of torrential rainfall doesn't displace more land.

Meanwhile, many residents attended church services for solace ahead of another week of recovery efforts.

"I can only compare it to a hot hearty meal after a very cold day," Slava Botamanenko of Darrington said of the church services.