#5

Get photo of Cheyenne, Dakota & Tahoe in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

If you have problems viewing the video, click HERE

 

Kris Crawford

Dogs trained to save lives with Oscar Mayer Weiners

 

For several years my pit bull dog Dakota was one of the most active search and rescue dogs in the country. Dakota and I worked our way up through the ranks to become recognized as one of the top search and rescue dog teams. Dakota was so good she was handpicked by FEMA and NASA to search for and bring home American Heroes - the remains of the astronauts that lost their lives in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.

Search dogs are trained via a reward system. They will work tirelessly to find the missing child, disaster victim, or elderly person suffering from Alzheimer's disease who wandered off, knowing that if they find them they will receive their favorite thingl. Dakota's favorite thing was an Oscar Mayer Hot Dog with Cheese. She would work hours and hours in the rain, unbearable heat, freezing cold and in rugged terrain so that we could re-unite the missing loved one with their family and she would get her Oscar Mayer Wiener. Tahoe too! She grew up learning how to be a search dog from Dakota and she too would search through anything and for as long as it would take to find the missing person knowing she would be rewarded with an Oscar Mayer Hot Dog with Cheese. said Kris Crawford

Six years ago, since Oscar Mayer hot dogs played such an important role in my dogs' success, I sent Kraft a letter and told them the story about Dakota. I asked if they were ever in the area could I get a photo of Dakota in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. A couple years went by and I hadn't heard back from anyone at Kraft. That is when I put getting Dakota a ride in the Wienermobile on my "bucket list" - the list of things I want to do before I "kick the bucket".

Every year, I'd send a letter and call the main office in Wisconsin to tell them about the dogs, pit bulls mind you, that would save lives for Oscar Mayer wieners. I learned everything there is to know about the Wienermobile and even entered contests...but my calls and letters continued to go unanswered. My dogs have received countless Letters of Appreciation from government officials, community leaders and even the FBI. They have also won many awards for their bravery and their work in the community (American Red Cross Real Hero Award, Jefferson Award, etc.) But the Wienermobile remained ever elusive.

I was having a pretty crappy day on Wednesday and when I got home, I curled up with Cheyenne, Dakota & Tahoe on the couch and just as I was starting to get comfortable, I heard my cell phone beep indicating that I had a message. "I don't care!" I said to myself and pulled the blanket over my head. Every 5 minutes the phone would beep again until finally I got up to see who it was. "Hi, I'm calling for Kris, my name is Mary Kate and I'm a driver for the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. I'm calling to see if you and Dakota are available for a photoshoot this coming Friday..." I dropped the phone and screamed!!!

On Friday October 2, 2009, Cheyenne, Dakota, Tahoe and I met with Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Hotdoggers Alison and Mary Kate. They were franktastic! They started out in Wisconsin four months ago and have been traveling around the US in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile ever since! Yes, that's their job! We were glad they were able to ketchup with us and Cheyenne, Dakota, Tahoe and I relished the time we spent with them in the Wienermobile.

 

 

 

Ask not what fun does for you,

Ask rather what you would do for fun!