Rhodes staff member Angela Fletcher recently was interviewed about her bloodhound, Maddy, and their search and rescue work. While online in 2011, Fletcher discovered Maddy in a foster home in Orlando, Fla., recovering from a bullet in her left hip and kidney problems. “There she saw a photo of a frail little dog with thin fur, a disheveled look and a spark in her eyes,” writes Laura Coffey, in an article published on the Subaru website. Pilots N Paws ®, a partner of Subaru, helped transport Maddy to Fletcher, who decided to adopt her.
Since that time, Fletcher has become a rescue K-9 officer, and she and Maddy have responded to a number of rescue and recovery efforts in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. According to the article, “They’ve rescued missing teens. They’ve rescued missing Alzheimer’s patients and, with their keen tracking skills, they’ve even helped solve murders.” In 2014, Maddy received the Pet Philanthropy Circle’s Pet Hero Award.
A majority of their work takes place on the weekends, and during the week Fletcher serves as an administrative assistant II in Rhodes’ Office of External Programs. In addition, Fletcher has taught youth about care and compassion for animals, and she and Maddy are involved in pet therapy for children who have experienced traumatic events.