Team Madison
Andrew has been with GARD since May 2013, he started training Maddy for Human Remains Detection (HRD) later that year. Andrew has been involved in emergency response and emergency management since 2004. His father is a local veterinarian so his passion for animals started at a very young age. GARD has given him the ability to combine his passion for helping others and working with animals together.
Andrew and his wife Stephanie joined the group with the intention of just training K9 Maya (who has since retired); however, they enjoyed it so much that Andrew adopted Maddy so that he too could be a handler. Maddy came from Southeast German Shepard Rescue, she was abandoned in Kentucky at just a few months of age. The rescue gave Andrew a call saying they found a great SAR pup, and at first sight he knew she was going to be a great SAR dog!
When not at training Maddy spends her time playing with her parents and K9 siblings (whether they want to play or not). She is full of energy and is constantly playing with toys. She has mastered and loves to play the “cute puppy card” to get extra attention and even to get out of trouble (not that she ever does anything wrong, just ask her handler!).